34 Questions About the 34 Days Coldwater Canyon is Closed

Here are the most common questions and the place to find the answers.

1. What the heck are they doing?

They are closing Coldwater Canyon Avenue between Ventura Boulevard and Mulholland Drive.

2. What are the dates?

From March 23 to April 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

3. What about Sundays?

The roads will be opened Sundays, but construction equipment will be along the side of the road and caution is still necessary.

4. Why the heck are they doing it?

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power needs to replace a 60-inch pipeline that is 99 years old. It is part of the City Trunk Line replacement project.

5. What the heck is a trunk line?

LADWP operates approximately 500 miles of trunk lines in the water system. Trunk lines are supply pipelines greater than 20 inches in diameter that form the major arteries for water delivery. They deliver and redistribute large amounts of water throughout the City of Los Angeles assuring a reliable supply is available.

6. What’s it being replaced with?

It will be replaced with a new welded steel pipleline.

7. And how long with that one last?

These are 100-year repairs, so most likely you won’t be around the next time they’re digging up the street.

8. So what if the trunk line breaks?

In September 2009, homes were flooded, businesses were ruined along Ventura Boulevard and Coldwater and one person had to be rescued from a car when three to four feet of water swept through after a portion of this trunk line broke.

9. Did it cause much damage?

Cost of repairs was over $700,000 and claims totaled nearly $8 million. Water loss was estimated at four million gallons.

10. Why are they doing it in my neighborhood?

The pipeline runs through the San Fernando Valley and along Coldwater to get to the other side of Los Angeles.

11. Why the heck are they doing it now?

This is the best time of year for the construction and the weather, and there are federal deadlines for the project to be completed. The summer is the peak water-usage time, so this is the best time of year.

12. Why can’t they do it at night?

The winding road and dark canyons will make it harder to navigate heavy equipment at night, and the noise reverberating through the canyon will be disruptive to much more than the 250 homes along the route.

13.  Why they heck is going to take so long?

This is a large major project, and this is the minimal amount of time it will take to do a majority of the work         .

14. What happens when it rains?

Rain can delay some of the project, but construction crews have planned for possible rain days and will work as long as they can while it’s safe.

15. What are alternative routes?

Motorists are urged to avoid the area during the closure and take alternate routes, including: Laurel Canyon Blvd.; Beverly Glen Blvd., Sepulveda Blvd., Cahuenga Blvd./Highland Avenue and Interstate 405.

16. Are there any secret routes snaking through the canyons?

Probably, but the officials highly discourage it. The well-known winding roads will be busy enough, and Los Angeles City Council member Paul Krekorian points out that many roads lead to dead ends and could just cause more frustration.

17. Will there be more traffic enforcement?

Yes, Department of Transportation personnel and Los Angeles Police will be concentrated on the area and will discourage non-residential traffic and an attempt to find shortcuts.

18. How noisy is it going to get?

It will be heavy construction noise and digging that most likely will reverberate through the canyons during the daytime. That’s another reason it won’t be happening at night.

19. Will they be working on Sundays.

No, never on Sundays.

20. How many cars is this going to impact?

An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 cars travel through the windy canyon road each day from the San Fernando Valley to West Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

21. Where is most of the work happening?

Portions of the trunk line to be removed and replaced are located between Dickens Street and Hacienda Drive,  where most of the work will occur.

22. How will the traffic be at nights and after the road is opened?

After 7 p.m. each night, 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and all day Sunday, one lane will be open for traffic in each direction. 

23. What if I live in the area?

Special access permits are being issued to area residents along Coldwater between Mulholland Drive and Ventura Boulevard. About 250 homes are involved. Those permits are to provide access when the road is supposed to be shut down.

24. What about Harvard-Westlake School that’s in that area?

The school is off for two weeks for Spring Break and resume April 8, but also all parents will have special access passes and there are ways to drive into campus. Click here (http://www.hw.com/abouthw/ColdwaterCanyonConstruction.aspx)  for details.

25. What about going to St. Michael’s Church?

Sundays are fine to get to the church. However, it is Easter season, and the church has a service for Maundy Thursday at 6:30 when the area will be closed. Passes have been issued to church members. For more details, click on the March newsletter here: http://www.stmikessc.org/newsletter

26. What about Good Friday on March 29?

The Episcopal church said the LADWP agreed to not close the road on Good Friday.

27. What about Passover, and our Seder dinner on Monday, March 25?

Paul Krekorian’s office said they will ask to keep traffic to a minimum, but said most of the work will be done before sundown.

28. What about the Tree People and the park?

Access to the park and Tree People will be available at Mulholland Drive, but you’ll have to use one of the alternative routes to get up to Mulholland to get to the park. See: http://www.treepeople.org/calendar/2013-03

29. Will the left turn from Coldwater onto Ventura be allowed again before the end of construction?

No, that will remain the case until April 25.

30. What about police, ambulance or fire emergencies?

Krekorian was adamant that emergency crews will always have access in and out of the neighborhoods for any emergencies.

31. Is it possible this will be finished earlier?

Absolutely, and Krekorian’s office will push them to finish earlier. They will keep the public in the loop if there are any delays or advances.

32. Where can I complain?

The LA DWP answers emergency calls 24-7 at 1-800-DIAL DWP

(1-800-342-5397). You can also call the councilman’s office at (818) 755-7676, or  email Krekorian’s Studio City representative:  Geoffrey Yazzetta at geoffrey.yazzetta@lacity.org or councilmember.krekorian@lacity.org.

33. Can I get updates directly about the progress of the project?

Yes, you can go to www.ladwpnews.com and click “Get Updates” and select “City Trunk Line-Coldwater Canyon” in the sign-up form. Also you can follow @LADWP on Twitter. And, of course, you can stay tuned to Patch.

34. What if I have more questions?

Go to www.LADWP.com