Westsiders will get their first taste of Purple Line Extension construction next week when Metro advance utility relocation (AUR) contractors begin setting up their staging area in the Caltrans yard at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Sepulveda Boulevard. AUR is anticipated to begin in the streets around Wilshire/Westwood starting in May.

AUR is the first step in bringing the much-anticipated Purple Line Extension to Westwood and UCLA. Clearing old telecom, gas, water, electricity and sewer lines, AUR will provide local residents and commercial buildings with brand new utility lines and create room for the Westside’s first underground subway station.

AUR work will occur throughout the week between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. It will take approximately two years to finish relocating all the utilities under the street to prepare for the construction of the station box. During the work hours, Wilshire Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

This work will affect local bus stops on Wilshire Boulevard between Veteran Avenue and Westwood Boulevard and on Westwood Boulevard, just north of Wilshire. Metro is currently working with Culver City Commuter, LADOT Transit, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Antelope Valley Commuter, Santa Clarita Commuter, UCLA Bruins and LAX Flyaway to permanently relocate bus stops in Westwood for the duration of the construction of the Westwood/UCLA station.

For more information on where the bus stops will be going, view the presentation from the Section 3, March 22nd Community Meeting.

The Westwood/UCLA station will be located on Wilshire Blvd. between Westwood Boulevard and Veteran Avenue and will feature one entrance on UCLA Lot 36 near northwest corner of Wilshire Boulevard/Gayley Avenue; and, one split entrance on northwest and southwest corners of Wilshire and Westwood Boulevards.

The last section of the Purple Line Extension Transit Project, Section 3, will add 2.59 miles of new rail to Metro’s Rail system and connect downtown Los Angeles to the Westside. New stations will be added at Wilshire/Westwood and the Wilshire/Veteran Administration property. Section 3 is currently in pre-construction with the project anticipated to begin major construction in 2019 and be open for operations in 2026.