Coldwater Canyon Report, IV

Note: Each week the office of Councilmember Paul Krekorian sends an email update on the Coldwater Canyon trunkline project. To receive those emails, simply send a note to Geoffrey.Yazzetta@lacity.org.

This is the fourth update in a series of notifications regarding a project to install a new 60-inch pipe underneath Coldwater Canyon Avenue to ensure the safety and reliability of our drinking water. As you know, the project cannot be done without closing Coldwater Canyon from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.

The construction, which began March 23rd, is still in progress and expected to be completed by April 25. During construction, commuters will not be allowed into the work zone as access to Coldwater Canyon, between Ventura Boulevard and Mulholland Drive, will be restricted to those with local access passes. Our office has continued to work with local agencies to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and asked that a dozen traffic safety officers from the LAPD and the Dept. of Transportation increase their presence to alleviate traffic congestion during the closure hours.  

As of today, April 12, the DWP has completely excavated and shored up the three work zones along Coldwater Canyon which has allowed crews to enter and begin installing the connection pieces that will bridge the existing and new trunk lines - each of these connections is in a different stage of completion. The entire length of the new pipe has been pressure tested, sanitized and drained, and it's important to keep mind that there has not been any disruption to local water service and we do not foresee any disruption as it relates to this project.

This past week, crews also filled the existing trunk line, which is now out of service, with a slurry mixture to ensure the structural integrity of the ground and road above. Next week the majority of the work will continue to focus on the individual connections, which when completed will allow the crews to begin filling the trenches and restoring the roadway.

Traffic near and around the construction site has reportedly - from officers on the scene and personnel with the Dept. of Transportation monitoring - been flowing as smoothly as can be expected given the gravity of this project. Councilmember Krekorian thanks you very much for your patience and for using alternate routes, which has greatly alleviated major traffic headaches. We're almost there!

Please feel free to contact our office if you have any questions or concerns. You can stay up to date with news about this project and much more on Twitter, Facebook and all updates will be posted to our Tumblr page, accessible to everyone via cd2news.tumblr.com/tagged/coldwater.

Thanks very much and have a great weekend!