Portable signs Saturday warned drivers on the Santa Monica (10) Freeway that major construction is about to close lanes—and likely cause congestion—at the western end of the freeway starting Tuesday.
Construction of the new Expo Line tracks will cause lane closures along Colorado Avenue one block north of the freeway, Metro officials said.
Downtown Street Will Close for Expo Work
Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A new train station will be built on Colorado Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets, forcing the permanent closure of eastbound Colorado at Fourth starting Tuesday.
Eventually, track-laying will also cross Lincoln Boulevard and 11th Street, the only two streets that cross the freeway near downtown Santa Monica.
Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Metro officials are warning freeway motorists that congestion could increase at the 4th-5th Streets exits starting Tuesday, and spill over to the crowded
Lincoln interchange as a result.
Expo Line construction is expected to finish in 2015, and after six months of testing passenger service will be extended west from the current temporary terminus at Culver City. Metro officials think 64,000 passengers a day will eventually patronize the train and its 46-minute trips between downtown Los Angeles and the beach.
