Here is the latest rundown of construction activities along the 8.5-mile Crenshaw/LAX Line corridor. The contractor building the project is Walsh Shea Corridor Constructors, also known as WSCC.

There’s a lot going on as the project nears the halfway completion mark. The rail line will run between Exposition Boulevard — where riders can transfer to the Expo Line — to a junction with the Green Line in the south. The light rail project is funded by Measure R and expected to be complete in 2019.

Northern Segment

Crenshaw/Expo Station

The lowering of the TBM’s four main pieces has begun. The TBM — now known as Harriet — will measure 400 feet long when complete.

Each piece needs to be lowered separately and then Harriet will be assembled. Excavation of the southbound tunnel is expected to begin in late April or early May. In the meantime, other work continues on the underground Crenshaw/Expo station, including the installation of electrical equipment and plumbing and building the station floor.    

Cross-passages

WSCC announced that preparation for the cross-passages will be completed next week. The cross-passages are needed to allow trains to switch tracks for maintenance work and in case of emergency. The underground segment will have five cross-passages. 

MLK station

The contractor expects to complete excavation of the station next week when digging reaches a depth of 65 feet. Struts have been placed on three levels and water proofing work has begun.

Leimert Park

All three levels of struts have been installed and excavation of the underground station is expected to be complete in about two weeks.

UG4

The cut-and-cover operation between Vernon Avenue and 48th Street continues for the southern portal to the rail tunnel under Crenshaw Boulevard. Digging has reached 50 feet in some areas of the trench. Hanging of utilities continues in this segment as well as the replacement of a sewer line. Traffic on Crenshaw Boulevard is moving in two lanes in each direction.    

Park Mesa Heights

Preparation continues for construction of the street-level segment between 48th Street and 63th Street, where the train will run in the middle of Crenshaw Boulevard.

UG3

WSCC continues to install steel piles in preparation for upcoming cut and cover excavation on Crenshaw Boulevard between 63th and 67th streets, which is expected to begin later this year. This is the location where the tracks will go from the middle of Crenshaw and turn toward Inglewood.

Southern Segment

Fairview Heights Station

Work on this street level station has begun with excavation for the platform’s foundation. Pole installation between Fairview Heights Station and Downtown Inglewood Station continues. The poles will support the catenary system that delivers electricity to trains.

La Brea Bridge

The wall on the south side of the bridge is almost complete and the one on the north side is almost 50 percent. Concrete will be poured over the  bridge deck this week.

Faithful Center Bible Church

The underground pedestrian passage under tracks for the Faithful Center Bible Church is almost 45 percent complete.

I-405 Bridge

Construction continues of the support columns for the bridge structure that will go over the freeway.

Southwest Yard

Construction activities for the Southwestern Yard are expected to begin in May. Light rail vehicles used on the Crenshaw/LAX Line will be stored, maintained and cleaned at the yard.

Aviation/Century Station

Bridge construction is expected to reach almost 50 percent by mid-March.

UG1

Excavation of the trench where trains will run next to Los Angeles International Airport is almost 50 percent complete and concrete floor is already being installed. 

Green Line Bridge connection

WSCC is building the frame for the bridge over Imperial Highway that will connect the Crenshaw/LAX light-rail line with the Metro Green Line. This work will be done in the next couple weeks.

There will be nighttime closures on Aviation Boulevard when the support column on Aviation is built. The Green Line’s power system will also need to be shut down to proceed with this work. Metro’s Construction Relations team will keep riders and community informed about these closures.

Construction activities are constantly changing due to unforeseen factors and changes may occur with no advanced notice. The weather also plays a significant role.

For more information on the Crenshaw/LAX Line go to metro.net/Crenshaw or join us on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/CrenshawRail and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/crenshawrail or call the project hotline at (213) 922-2736.