Project Director Charles Beauvoir of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced that the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project has reached 53 percent completion. The opening date for the $2.058 billion project, which includes 8.5-miles with eight new stations, is projected for October 2019.
At the northern end of the project, Harriet the tunnel boring machine has resumed excavating the underground segment for the second of twin tunnels which will house the northbound track alignment. Excavations are expected to be complete in Spring 2017. Harriet finished the southbound tunnel on October 20.
Metro also released updates on the following projects:
On the Northern Segment:
- Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors (WSCC) is working on the mezzanine floor, continues to erect walls inside the Crenshaw/Expo station, and continues installing mechanic, electrical and plumbing elements;
- At the Martin Luther King Jr. station, one of the ventilation shafts is being excavated and workers are building the interior walls. Preparation for the portal eye at the north wall of the station, where Harriet will enter the station, continues;
- Waterproofing continues on the lower walls and plumbing is being installed at the Leimert Park Station;
- On the underground segment from Vernon until 48th Street, excavation is complete on the south exit portal and mudslab is being placed; and
- On the underground segment from 59th to 67th Street, decking of the intersection at 67th and Crenshaw Blvd. has been completed. Excavation work continues and should be done early next year.
On the Southern Segment:
- At Fairview Heights, Downtown Inglewood stations the concrete is being poured for both platform station decks and electrical and plumbing elements are being installed;
- On the Guideway, construction is underway for the ballast walls and water is being relocated and drain lines installed;
- The pedestrian underground tunnel at Faithful Central Bible Church is almost complete;
- WSCC has completed 95 percent of falsework (framing) for the I-405 bridge superstructure;
- WSCC will begin pouring concrete for the Westchester/Veterans Station platform, access ramps and ballast walls this month;
- The Bridge over Manchester Avenue is almost complete, but WSCC is still working on the wall on the north side of the bridge. Work to accommodate the 96th Street Station is now underway with construction of ballast wall;
- The superstructure of the Aviation/Century Bridge is complete and WSCC is working on the aerial station;
- On the underground segment from 104th through 111th Street, civil and structural work is 85 percent complete; and
- WSCC continues installing rebar and placing concrete on the Green Line Bridge.
Southwest Yard
- Utility and storm drain work is continuing at the future Southwestern Yard that will serve as the maintenance yard for the Crenshaw/LAX line trains. Building electrical and plumbing infrastructure is being laid beneath the foundation slab and the vehicle lift caissons are being set in place. Main Building foundation forming, rebar installation and concrete placement continues.