Los Angeles commuters are warned to avoid Crenshaw Boulevard between Jefferson Boulevard and Coliseum Street for the next month, as work begins for a light rail line to Los Angeles International Airport.
As of Friday night, the section of Crenshaw is closed for 30 days, and Metro officials have said to expect delays in the area.
The closure will allow for the excavation of an underground station for the planned $2 billion rail line to connect the Green and Expo lines.
"(The street closure) is a little inconvenient but the overall progress that it’s going to bring is going to be well worth it,” said resident Mark Roberts.
However, some business owners were already feeling an impact less than a day later.
"They’ve got to look for a different way to do that, maybe at night time, because at day time they are blocking the street. It's not good for us," said Richard Bermudez, adding that he believes his auto shop has lost about 80 percent of business.
Work began at 9 p.m. Friday and was expected to last through 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 24 -- stopping for a week during the Thanksgiving holiday when traffic on Crenshaw will re-open, according to Metro. Work will resume Dec. 1 and last through Dec. 14.
Commuters can use the following detours:
- Southbound: Turn right at Jefferson Boulevard, turn left at La Brea, turn left at Rodeo Road, turn right at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and turn right at Crenshaw Boulevard.
- Northbound: Turn right at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, turn left at Western Avenue, turn left at Jefferson Boulevard and turn right Crenshaw Boulevard. Metro officials say to plan ahead if you are traveling in this area, as it is a major thoroughfare to West Los Angeles Church of God in Christ and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw plaza, as well as many other establishments along the corridor.
- Bus users: Metro bus lines 210, 710 and 740 will be temporarily rerouted via Arlington Avenue, between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard. However, Metro will have a special free bus shuttle every 15 minutes to serve the Expo/Crenshaw rail station for passengers transferring from and to bus and rail.
