(Originally
appeared in the July 1, 2004 edition of the Century City News)
The
first year of construction was a real test as we started work on reconfiguring
both Big and Little Santa Monica Blvds.
Our challenge was to refurbish two major roads that for several decades
ran side by side and were separated by an old rail system. This is being done by reconfiguring and
reducing the center median which housed the train tracks, upgrading the roads,
each 2.5 miles in length, for a total of 5 miles, and do it in a neighborhood
replete with small businesses, residents livings in homes, condos and
apartments and thousands of commuters traveling to Century City, Beverly Hills
Santa Monica and beyond. It has been a
real challenge and by far the biggest roadway improvement project the City of
Los Angeles has undertaken in many decades.
Some
of our accomplishments to date include completing the majority of the
underground utility upgrades during Phase 1A, including the DWP water line, the
majority of the sewer work and storm drain upgrades, installing many of the
electrical conduits, completing the small retaining wall at Malcolm Avenue
separating Big and Little Santa Monica Blvd., and finally with implementation
of Phase 1B we have begun some of the critical roadway improvements. We also continue to make great progress on
the large retaining wall between Pandora Ave. and Prosser Ave. and we are now
at full-speed, making regular concrete pours, roughly every three weeks. When completed this will be a landmark architectural
wall that will be unique in its scope and design and feature new landscaping, a
stairway as well as a handicap access ramp connecting Big and Little Santa
Monica Blvd. 
With regards to the overall project schedule, our current
projected completion date is March, 2006. The current phase of construction,
Phase 1B, will be completed by late summer which will takes us into Phase
2. Phase 2 will feature the continuation
of the roadway upgrades in Century City but work will shift from Little to Big
Santa Monica Blvd. between Beverly Glen Avenue of the Stars. In Phase 2 we will
also tackle the sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements in this area. This Phase is expected to last about 4 months
and will take us into early 2005.
As
we continue to make steady progress on this job I would ask that you work with
our team of engineers, inspectors and public information personnel to stay
informed about our upcoming work schedule.
I invite you to attend our monthly open houses at our field office. I’d like to thank everyone for their patience
and support as we near the summer months and work towards completing this
project in 2006.
If you would like to see the
Phasing plans please log onto www.smblvd.org or call our office for more
information—(310) 785-2300.
Santa Monica Boulevard
Project Construction update
Phase 1B Schedule: Phase 1B began on May 22,
2004, as traffic was moved to the median roadway in two areas: between Beverly
Glen and Avenue of the Stars in Century City and between Westholme Ave. and
Westwood Blvd. This phase features the
start of the major roadway improvement on Big and Little Santa Monica Blvd.
Description of Work
|
Start / Duration
|
Work Done So Far
|
Time Remaining
|
MWD Line
|
Work on the MWD
line began in January 2004
|
Work is 10%
complete
|
8 months
|
Retaining Wall
(Between Pandora and Prosser)
|
Work started in
July 2003
|
Work is 50%
complete
|
9 months
|
Electrical Upgrades
(Includes Conduit
Installation
Street, Pedestrian
Lighting and Signal Upgrades)
|
Work began in April
2003
|
Work is 40%
complete
|
14 months
|
Roadway Work in
Century City
|
Work Began in May
2004
|
Work is 30%
complete
|
2 months
|
Roadway Work
between Westwood and Westholme
|
Work began in May
2004
|
Work is 20%
complete
|
2 months
|
Roadway Work
between Moreno and Century park East
|
Work began in June
2004
|
Work is 15%
complete
|
2 months
|
Widening of 405 On
Ramps
|
Work began in March
2003
|
Work is 25%
complete
|
6 months
|
