In anticipation of tunnel mining work being completed in mid-January, the Regional Connector Constructors under contract to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will begin efforts to retrieve the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at the 4th and Flower Street intersection as part of construction related activities for the Regional Connector Transit Project.
Full weekend closures of 4th/Flower intersection are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Friday January 19 through 5 a.m. Monday, January 22 for traffic reconfiguration and preparation work to erect the TBM gantry crane. The 11 weekend closures of the intersection will remain in place through April 2, 2018.
During the weekend closures various work activities will take place including setting k-rail, grinding, striping, deck panel removal, excavation and TBM removal.
Local access to businesses will be maintained during the closure. Pedestrian access will be maintained outside the work area. Construction flaggers will be onsite to facilitate access.
During weekdays, through traffic will be reduced to two lanes on Flower Street from 3rd Street to 5th Street. The lower portion of 4th Street from Figueroa Street to Flower Street will be reduced to one lane with construction work occurring between 7 a.m. and midnight.
One traffic lane will remain open on Flower St between 3rd St and 5th St from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. prior to the full weekend closure. Weekend detours will be from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. These include Flower Street through traffic detoured to Grand Avenue at 1st Street then to 5th Street and back to Flower Street. Southbound Flower Street traffic will be detoured westbound at 3rd Street to Beaudry, then back to 6th Street.
The I-110 Northbound 3rd Street Eastbound off-ramp will be closed as part of the weekend closures activities starting at 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.
Local access for J2 Garage (South), Citigroup Center and the Bonaventure Hotel will be allowed from 5th Street/Flower Street. For the World Trade Center and Bank of America, enter at 3rd Street/Flower Street.
The public is encouraged to plan ahead and allow for extra time when commuting into downtown Los Angeles during the weekend closures.
The $1.75-billion Regional Connector Transit Project is a 1.9-mile underground light-rail extension that will connect the Blue, Expo and Gold Lines in downtown Los Angeles and will include three new stations at 1st Street/Central Avenue, 2nd Street/Broadway and 2nd Place/Hope Street. The rail line is expected to serve 88,000 riders daily – including 17,000 new riders – and save commuters up to 20 minutes by reducing the need to transfer. The connector will provide a one-seat, one fare ride for commuters from Azusa to Long Beach and from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2021.
The new Metro rail extension will offer an alternative transportation option to congested roadways, provide significant environmental benefits and spur economic development throughout the county. Through improved connectivity, riders will be better able to use the entire Metro Rail system, municipal bus lines and other regional transportation services.
