At the new Little Tokyo/Arts District Station, crews have completed concrete placement of the exterior walls and roof for the rail tunnel entrance on 1st Street that will serve trains coming from East Los Angeles. Completing the first of the two tunnel entrances for the L Line (Gold) (the other is for trains coming from Azusa) is a big part of this project that is tying together the A Line (Blue), E Line (Expo) and L Line (Gold).

The project is now ready to start street restoration efforts to return the roads to the conditions found prior to construction and bring the Regional Connector one step closer to completion.

Road closures for street restoration begin January 10

Street restoration starts on January 10, 2020, and will last approximately eight months (two four-month phases of closures). This process is completed in three major steps and requires crews to close streets to remove the concrete panels that make up the temporary roadway.

First, crews will backfill on top of the wye junction guideway roof. The wye junction is a triangular joining arrangement of three rail lines with a railroad switch at each corner connecting the lines. Backfilling is the process of replacing soil that was removed during the initial excavation and is the key to a solid and stable base for the permanent road. This work will take place up to approximately 20 feet below the roadway and has already begun in anticipation of the planned 2020 street closures.

Next, the temporary deck panels that make the 1st St./Alameda St. intersection will be removed. This provides crews access to the dense web of utilities that exist below ground. Utility lines that are currently hanging from the decking structure will be permanently set into place, before the supporting deck structure is removed and the area is completely backfilled. A new, semi-permanent layer of asphalt will be placed on top of it all to restore vehicular traffic to the intersection.

Finally, a cap of asphalt is placed, along with curbs, gutters, and sidewalks to complete the process of street restoration. To learn more about this process, read the restoration fact sheet or view a time-lapse video of this process from the Crenshaw/LAX transit project.

A sampling of the utility lines crisscrossing beneath the 1st St/Alameda St intersection. Street restoration involves setting each one permanently in place.

View of the wye junction roof, located directly under the 1st St/Alemda St intersection, while it still under construction.

A view of the finished roof on the wye junction guideway.

A view from inside the wye junction guideway, looking west towards the station portal.

A view from within the wye junction guideway shows the finished walls and roof, while temporary support beams remain.

Plan ahead and use alternate routes

In order for crews to complete this extensive work, lane reductions and road closures will be in place at the 1st St. and Alameda St. intersection beginning the night of January 10 and lasting through August 2020. Use alternate routes when traveling into downtown LA.

• Westbound 1st St. closure (between Vignes St. and Alameda St.) is in effect January 13 to April 24, 2020
• Full intersection closures of 1st St./Alameda St. is in effect the weekends of January 10, 24, 31; February 7; March 27; April 3, 10, 24; May 1; and August 28, 2020
• One-block closure of 1st St. (between Alameda St. and Central Ave.) is in effect April 27 to August 31, 2020

Detours for street closures at the 1st St/Alameda St in downtown LA.

Local access route during westbound 1st St closure, from Vignes to Alameda St, in downtown LA.

Local access route during one-block closure of 1st St, from Central Ave to Alameda St.

Metro L Line (Gold) and Line 30/330 service will NOT be impacted during this work. The LADOT DASH Line A will be rerouted in Little Tokyo and the Arts District during weekend closures. Visit LADOT DASH rider alerts for details.

Visit the project homepage for a closer look at the Regional Connector.

Businesses open during construction

While roads may be closed in the neighborhood, businesses remain open. To make your visit to the area a little easier, Metro is offering two hours of validation when you visit participating Little Tokyo businesses and park at a designated lot. Learn more on the project page.

Plus, visit Metro’s Eat Shop Play page for a list of shops and restaurants in the area you have to try for yourself. Getting around by walking is a breeze. Use these handy maps to tour Little Tokyo or the Arts District on foot.

Questions or comments?

Metro would like to thank the community for its ongoing patience and cooperation. For more information find the Regional Connector community outreach team Mondays (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Tuesdays and Thursdays (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.), and Wednesdays and Fridays (appointment only) at the Little Tokyo Community Office (located at 360 E. 1st St.). You can also call the project hotline anytime at 213-922-7277 or visit their webpage for the latest project news.