BEVERLY HILLS—Metro announced a new construction plan on Monday, February 8 for the Purple Line Extension, which will shut down a six-block stretch of Wilshire Boulevard.

The initial proposal of shutting down a six-block stretch of Wilshire Boulevard near the Miracle Mile for the Purple Line rail extension construction for seven weeks has been replaced by a new plan of spreading the closure over 22 weekends, announced by Metro on Monday, February 8.

The Purple Line Extension is one of Metro’s priority projects. Approved by voters in November 2008, the Purple Line Extension will extend from the current Wilshire/Western terminus westward for about nine miles with seven new stations, such as Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City and Westwood.

With the seven-week plan proving to be unpopular during several public meetings, Metro opted the 22-weekend closure schedule instead. Due to this change, the start date of the project has been pushed back from April to June.

The construction will be divided into three phases. The first will be the closure of one block between La Brea Avenue and Detroit Street over three weekends. To prepare for the first phase, Metro will also install concrete decking between Highland Avenue and Detroit Street to allow traffic flow during the construction.

The second phase will close up the intersection of La Brea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard for three weekends, to be followed by a 16-weekend long third phase closure of a five-block stretch from La Brea Avenue to Highland Avenue.