Street Closure for Expo Line Construction Starts Tonight

Expo Line officials notified residents and businesses in the neighborhood of La Cienega and Jefferson Boulveards yesterday that the intersection will be continuously closed from 7 p.m. Friday, April 14 until 6 a.m. Monday, April 25 for street reconstruction in anticipation of the coming light rail line.

"It's necessary to do the final construction," said Gabriela Collins, government and community relations manager for the Exposition Construction Authority, about the closure.  "Unfortunately, we have to do that."

She said that efforts were being made to notify as many people as possible so that drivers can plan ahead and avoid the construction zone.

"It's a major intersection," she said. "It's good to get the information out so people can plan ahead. We don't want anybody surprised when they get there."

Collins couldn't say just how the traffic in Culver City might be affected, even though Jefferson Boulevard is one of the main thoroughfares for the city.

"Traffic is being directed toward the city of Los Angeles," she said.

The Expo Line's first station, on La Cienega Boulevard, is expected to open in November, with the Culver City station, near Venice and Washington Boulevards, possibly opening as soon as April of next year.

According to the notice from the Exposition Construction Authority, the project will include some excavation, new curbs and gutters, work on traffic signals, as well as repaving and restriping of the street.

While there will be electronic and regular directional signs indicating the detour routes, the notice also encouraged drivers to use Washington Boulevard, Adams Boulevard or Rodeo Road as alternatives to Jefferson Boulevard. Drivers can click here to look at the notice.

The notice also warned that the construction schedule is subject to change, due to weather conditions or emergencies.