Drivers who make over-the-hill commutes should prepare for the closing of Coldwater Canyon Avenue during daylight hours starting Saturday due to LADWP work.
The canyon roadway, a crucial connector between the San Fernando Valley and LA's westside, will be shut down between Ventura Boulevard on the northern end and Mulholland Drive at the south end (map).
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is closing the canyon road from March 23 to April 25 to replace a nearly 100-year-old trunk line that ruptured in 2009 with a new welded steel pipe as part of an ongoing city trunk line replacement project, according to the utility's website.
The closure is expected to increase traffic on other surface streets and the two other main canyon roads, Laurel Canyon and Beverly Glen boulevards.
The majority of the construction will be between Dickens Street and Hacienda Drive.
“When it’s done, we will have safe and reliable drinking water,” Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian said in a press conference. “We will have infrastructure that will last us for the next 100 years.”
Lanes in both directions will be closed for construction from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The roadway will be open Sundays.
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One lane in each direction will be open during non-construction hours. At that time, drivers heading both north and south on Coldwater Canyon Avenue will be prohibited from turning left onto Ventura Boulevard.
Residents, churches, businesses and schools -- including Harvard-Westlake School, an exclusive private campus -- are being issued special access permits to allow local traffic in the area.
When the line ruptured at Coldwater Canyon and Ventura Boulevard, area residences and businesses became flooded. Repair costs reached more than $700,000, LADWP said, adding that claims totaled nearly $8 million. Some 4 million gallons of water were lost, the department said.
LADWP suggested drivers take these alternate routes:
- Cahuenga Boulevard/Highland Avenue
- Laurel Canyon Boulevard
- Beverly Glen Boulevard
- Sepulveda Boulevard
- I-405
- Metro
View Coldwater Canyon Ave Closed 3/23 to 4/25 in a larger map
