WESTWOOD—The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began a construction project in Westwood on Monday, June 15 that is expected to have an effect on traffic in the area until January 2016. The LADWP is installing a new 36-inch diameter water pipeline at Sunset Boulevard and Hilgard Avenue in order to continue water delivery to the community while the Upper Stone Mountain reservoir is temporarily put out of service.

In 2006, the EPA modified the 1973 Safe Drinking Water Act to include more stringent federal standards for storing drinking water. A number of reservoirs in Los Angeles County are currently being drained in order to make the necessary changes to meet EPA standards.

The project is being broken down into 3 phases with each phase having different temporary changes in traffic patterns. During phase 1, which is expected to take place between June 15 and August 2015, motorists can expect to see the following changes Monday thru Friday between 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Saturdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. with work occasionally going until 9:00 p.m.:

  • No turns onto Hilgard Avenue or Copa De Oro Road from Sunset Boulevard Eastbound
  • No left turn onto Hilgard Avenue from Sunset Boulevard Westbound
  • Right turn only onto Sunset Boulevard from Copa De Oro Road Southbound
  • Metro Bus detours: Lines 734 & 234 and Line 2-302 (Westbound only)

Phase 2 of the project is slated to take place from August 2015 until September 2015 and changes include the closure of one lane in each direction on Hilgard Ave between Sunset Boulevard and Comstock Avenue, Monday thru Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The final phase of the project, occurring on Hilgard Avenue south of Charing Cross road, will see the following changes to traffic Monday thru Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with occasional Saturday and evening work:

  • Hilgard Avenue reduced to one lane in each direction next to the work area
  • No left turn onto Charles E. Young Drive from Hilgard Avenue Northbound

The new pipeline is being constructed less than half a mile from the location of an older pipeline that burst earlier this year, sending a geyser of water 30 feet in the air for over 3 hours and flooding the area with 8-10 million gallons of water.