They’re at it again … working on linkage between the Blue Line and the Exposition Light-Rail Line. Yes, it’s a temporary annoyance but won’t it be great when the east/west line to Culver City is completed? The delays mean the two lines, which will share track between Washington and 7th & Metro stations, are being interlaced. So there’s forward movement and in construction projects, that’s a good thing.

This weekend, starting at 9 tonight (4/2) to rush hour Monday morning, there’ll be a bus bridge between 7th & Metro and Washington stations. The buses will ferry customers to stations between. This may cause 40-minute delays so allow at least that much extra time.

After the jump, the press release issued by Metro Media Relations.

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 40 minutes this coming weekend beginning Friday night, April 2, due to construction of the Expo light rail line, which will connect with the Metro Blue Line in downtown Los Angeles.

Rail service from Washington Station to Long Beach Transit Mall will not be affected. Metro will implement a bus bridge service for the four downtown stations closed for the construction.

Work will begin at 9 p.m. on Friday and continue until Monday morning, April 5. Metro expects to have the Metro Blue Line service restored by Monday before peak hours between Washington and 7^th St/Metro Center stations.

Metro will make every attempt to have service restored before peak hours Monday morning. Should any unforeseen delay occur, the bus bridge will continue in operation with buses running between Washington and 7^th/Metro Center stations.

The Metro Blue Line stations affected will be San Pedro, Grand Avenue, Pico/Chick Hearn and 7^th/Metro Center. Rail service from Washington Station to Long Beach Transit Mall will not be affected. There also will be Metro personnel at Washington and 7^th/Metro Center stations to help direct patrons.

The bus bridge service will operate every 15 to 20 minutes on Friday night. On Saturday and Sunday buses will run every 5 to 10 minutes and after 8 p.m. every 15 to 20 minutes.

The temporary bus stops will be located near the stations. Those passengers coming from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles will have to transfer from the train to the bus at the Washington Station, on Long Beach Avenue just south of Washington Boulevard.

The buses will have stops at the San Pedro Station on Washington Boulevard just east of San Pedro Street, at Grand Avenue Station on Washington Boulevard east of Olive Avenue, at Pico/ Chick Hearn Station on Pico Boulevard just east of Flower Street and at 7^th/Metro Center at the Figueroa Street entrance to the Metro Rail station.

Metro Blue Line customers traveling to Long Beach can board buses at the Hope Street entrance to the 7^th/Metro Center. Buses will make stops will be at Pico/Chick Hearn station on Pico Boulevard just east of Flower Street, the Grand Avenue Station on Washington Boulevard east of Grand Avenue, at San Pedro Station on Washington Boulevard just east of San Pedro Street, and at the  Washington Station will be on Washington Boulevard just east of Long Beach Boulevard.

Metro patrons are advised to allow extra time for their trips and check television monitors in train stations or call Metro’s hot line number 213- 922-4999 for the latest information on the construction work and service impacts or go online to www.metro.net. All work is subject to weather delays.

Metro apologizes for this inconvenience and appreciates the public understanding and cooperation during this construction period. For schedule information, contact Metro Customer Relations at (213) 922-6235.

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. For Expo Line Construction information contact (213) 922-5609.