BEVERLY HILLS—Motorists in Beverly Hills are being warned of traffic detours slated to transpire as roadway construction begins on N. Santa Monica Blvd. starting in mid-August and lasting for the next 3 weeks between Wilshire Boulevard and Alpine Drive. According to a press release from the city of Beverly Hills, starting on Saturday, August 12 traffic on North (Big) Santa Monica Boulevard will be limited to two westbound lanes and eastbound traffic will be rerouted to S. (Little) Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards starting at Century Park East.

This is the same detour plan that was implemented for a similar construction phase in June for Segment 1, which stretched from Wilshire Boulevard to Rodeo Drive. The N. Santa Monica Boulevard Reconstruction project is now working on Segment 2, Rodeo Drive to Alpine Drive. Segment 2 construction involves removing the roadway completely and replacing it with new subgrade and asphalt, requiring lane closures and detours.

The work and road closures are scheduled to shorten the overall duration of construction and keep the project’s business access section on track for completion before the holiday season. No construction work will take place where it comes in close proximity to the BOLD Summer Nights events.  Road work will transpire Monday – Friday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.; and Saturday – Sunday from 7 a.m. – 6 a.m.

Bus Stops – Buses will continue to travel westbound on N. Santa Monica Boulevard with stops at Palm Drive, Camden Drive and Wilshire Boulevard. Buses travelling eastbound will be diverted onto S. Santa Monica Boulevard in Century City. Buses will stop just west of Charleville Boulevard and continue on S. Santa Monica Boulevard with stops west of Camden Drive and west of Crescent Drive. The eastbound buses will return to N. Santa Monica Boulevard by way of Doheny Drive.

Turn Restrictions – In order to limit vehicles diverting into residential neighborhoods, left turns will be prohibited from eastbound Wilshire onto Trenton Drive.

Intersection Work: On two weekends in August, work on the intersections in this segment will require restricting to north-south traffic. On August 12-13, Canon and Rexford Drives will be closed to through traffic at N. Santa Monica Boulevard. On August 19-20, Beverly and Crescent drives will be closed to through traffic at N. Santa Monica Boulevard.

An extensive outreach program is underway to inform the community on the progress of the project and how to navigate streets during construction. Watch for mailers, social media messages, signage and notification of upcoming meetings.

Once completed, improvements to N. Santa Monica Boulevard will include:

  • Rebuilt roadway with a rubberized asphalt surface to provide a smoother and quieter ride
  • Upgraded drainage system
  • New curbs and gutters
  • Widening of the road on the south side between Cañon Drive and Wilshire Boulevard
  • A standardized street-lighting system along the north side
  • ADA compliant access upgrades
  • New sidewalks
  • Low impact drainage landscaping (grass swales) that comply with the urban water quality regulations
  • Landscaping on the south side of the boulevard

The website www.beverlyhills.org/smblvd will provide continuous updates and residents and businesses can sign up to receive emailed notifications through Ask Bev, www.beverlyhills.org/AskBev, or stay in touch via www.Facebook.com/CityofBeverlyhills and www.Twitter.com/CityofBevHills.  Those with questions can email smblvd@beverlyhills.org, the project helpline (424) 339-9033 or the Public Works Customer Service line (310) 285-2467.