Ground has been broken on Los Angeles’ Metro Purple Line Extension Project.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority awarded a Skanska, Traylor Bros and J.F. Shea (STS) joint venture the $1.6 billion design and build contract to extend the city’s Purple Line earlier this year.
The 6.3-kilometre line will see the existing underground route extended from Wilshire/Western line terminus to Wilshire/La Cinega in Beverly Hills. Three new stations will be built as part of the project, which also includes the installation of signalling and telecommunication systems, traction power supply and distribution, and fare collection systems.
Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles and Metro board chairman, said: “When it comes to infrastructure, LA is on the move. We are right now investing $36 billion in our transportation infrastructure to ease congestion and create thousands of jobs.”
The extension will be completed in three phases, with the first $2.8 billion section set to be completed in 2023. The second phase will extend the line beyond Wilshire/La Cinega to stations at Wilshire/Rodeo and Century City in 2026 and phase three will take the line all the way to Westwood VA Hospital by 2035.
Los Angeles County supervisor and Metro board member Zev Yaroslavsky said: “No transit corridor in our region is in greater need of mass rapid transit. The area to be served is one of the most dense employment centers in the county and is plagued by some of the worst traffic congestion in the country.
“This groundbreaking is long overdue and will be well received by people who work and live in the Westside.”
