More Regional Connector utility relocation work will start this Saturday, August 23. The work will require 2nd Street between Spring and Broadway to be fully closed for four weeks. Here’s the press release from Metro:

As part of advanced relocation of utilities to pave the way for the construction of station boxes and tunnels to begin on the Regional Connector Project, 2^nd Street between Spring Street and Broadway will remain closed for a 4- week period beginning Saturday, August 23.

The closure is necessary so utility crews can install electrical vaults on 2^nd Street to support the construction of the 2^nd Street/Broadway Station for the Regional Connector. Because the vaults are the width of the street, a 4-week full closure is needed for this work. The closure will be in effect 24-hours a day.

Anticipated hours of construction work are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Barriers will be placed to separate the work area from traffic and during the closure, saw-cutting, excavation, conduit and vault installation work will be performed.

Access to the Los Angeles Times 2^nd Street Corporate Garage will be maintained during the

4-week closure and access to Joe’s Parking Lot will be maintained via Spring Street and Broadway. Pedestrian access will also be maintained outside the construction zone. Metro bus service should be maintained along both Spring Street and Broadway. No Metro bus service operates along 2^nd street in the closure area.

During the closure, westbound 2^nd Street traffic will be detoured right on Main Street, left on 1^st Street, left on Hill Street back to 2^nd Street. Eastbound 2^nd Street traffic will be detoured right on Hill Street, left on 4^th Street, left on Main Street, back to 2^ndStreet.

The $1.427 billion Regional Connector light rail project will complete a 1.9 mile gap connecting the Metro Gold Line with the Blue and Expo lines by providing a direct connection with three new stations planned for 1^st Street/Central Avenue, 2^ndStreet/Broadway and 2^nd Place/Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles. The Regional Connector Project is an important rail connection project overwhelmingly approved by the voters and funded by the Measure R half-cent sales tax for LA County transportation improvements.

The Regional Connector, expected to be completed in 2020, will attract nearly 17,000 new daily riders and provide access to more than 88,000 passengers saving commuters up to 20 minutes off their daily commutes. It will provide a one-seat, one fare ride for commuters from Azusa to Long Beach and from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica without the need to transfer between rail lines for major east/west and north/south trips.

The new Metro Rail extension will offer an alternative transportation option to congested roadways, provide significant environmental benefits and spur economic development throughout Los Angeles County. Through improved connectivity, riders will be better able to use the entire Metro Rail system, municipal bus lines and other regional transportation services.