With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA Metro Expo line bridge construction underway in Culver City (MAP)
Listen
• 1:17
Construction work has started along the intersection of Venice and Robertson Boulevards for the bridge that will connect the first and second phase of the Metro Expo Line light rail. Expect lane reductions and possible parking reduction.
(
Metro
)
Construction workers on the Metro Expo Line construction project near Olympic Boulevard.
(
Courtesy Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority
)
Construction crews have started building the new Expo Line bridge that will extend over Venice Boulevard. The structure will connect the Culver City station with Phase 2 of the light rail project to the Westside.
Crews have been working underground for several months to clear away power lines and poles that were in the way.
With the utility work behind them, Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority CEO Rick Thorpe says his team is now putting up columns along Venice to support the bridge.
“They’ve started the one on the eastern side and then they’ll be moving into the middle of the street, where we have a couple of other columns and then on on the western side of the street," Thorpe said.
Support for LAist comes from
RELATED: New LA Metro Expo Line finally opens and gets put to the test
Thorpe predicts that work will take several months. In the summer, crews will add concrete and steel. Developers expect to finish the bridge by the end of the year. Then they’ll lay more than six miles of track out to Santa Monica. After that, workers will power up test trains.
Planners expect the $1.5 billion project to wrap up sometime in 2016. Metro estimates that by the year 2030, about 64,000 people will ride the Expo line between downtown L.A. and the Westside every day.
As the first anniversary of the 1st phase to Culver City draws near, leaders say ridership has surpassed expectations with nearly 26,000 passengers a day.
Be prepared for road closures:
Source: Expo Venice
- Expect lane reductions along Venice Boulevard and Robertson Boulevard, especially where the two roads intersect. Look at the green area in the map above for exact lane reduction areas.
- Prepare for less parking, especially on the street, along the construction area.
- Construction work hours both daytime and nighttime: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist