Blue Line passengers be warned: due to Expo Line light rail construction, there are likely going to be delays in Blue Line service of up to 30 minutes over each of the next three weekends. In other words, it’s going to take up to 30 minutes longer for trains to travel between Metro Center in Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The Expo Line and Blue Line will join together at the intersection of Washington and Flower and then share the same tracks until the terminus of both lines at Metro Center (at 7th and Figueroa/Flower). Work started last year to begin the process of merging the tracks at Washington and Flower, but it’s a complicated process and there’s more to be done.

More details on the delays are after the jump.

Here’s an item on the delays that Metro CEO Art Leahy sent to staff in his daily email:

Metro Blue Line Weekend Service to be Impacted as Construction Crews Work on Expo Line Connection

Metro Blue Line passengers will experience travel delays of up to 30 minutes on three consecutive weekends beginning Friday night, February 5, 2010 due to construction of the Expo Light Rail Line, which will connect with the Metro Blue Line in downtown Los Angeles.

Work will begin at 9:00 p.m. on Friday nights and continue until the close of rail service on Sunday night for the weekends of February 5-7, February 12-14 and February 19-21. Every attempt will be made to have service restored by Monday morning on each of the three weekends. Should any unforeseen delay occur, train service will be supplemented by buses between Washington and 7^th Street/Metro Center Stations.

All work is subject to weather delays. Patrons are advised to allow extra time for their trips and check television monitors in train stations or call the Metro Hot Line number: 213- 922-4999 for the latest information on the construction work and service impacts or go online to www.metro.net. Information about closures and bus bridge service in English and Spanish will posted for the affected stations and announcements will be done in all Metro Rail stations.

The Expo Line is a new 8.5 mile light rail line under construction from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City. It will share tracks and two stations with the Metro Blue Line along the Flower Street portion of the alignment.