The existing Purple Line subway is being extended west, ultimately past UCLA to the VA complex just west of I-405: https://www.metro.net/projects/westside/ The first phase to Wilshire/La Cienega may be completed by 2023, and Metro wants the final phase to be complete by the 2028 Olympics.
As mentioned in other posts, the Regional Connector will link the existing Blue, Expo and Gold light rail lines into two lines; one will run from Santa Monica to east LA and the other from Long Beach to Asuza. Completion for use is expected in 2021: https://www.metro.net/projects/connector/
Fossils are continuously being uncovered in this first phase of construction. Recently some rare mammoth remains were removed about a mile east of the famous La Brea tar pits: http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/49849
The TBM will now finish its employment by boring south to about 4th and Flower; this is near the location of the former Pacific Electric tunnel which has been penetrated in several places by newer high rise building foundations.
I was by Alameda and 1st Streets in Los Angeles today. No big hole was present as seen on aerials, but barricades were everywhere.
The plan was to park on a side street and walk to Alameda and 1st Streets, but that was wishful thinking as NO parking spaces were anywhere.
Perhaps the next time I’ll board in Azusa and ride the Gold Line all the way to downtown Los Angeles, through Union Station, and disembark at Alameda and 1st Streets for photos.
I wouldn’t make a special trip - the contractor will have high fencing all around that might not even include a peephole. If available, a view from the NE corner of the portal site would be enlightening. Metro has not published anything recently AFAIK.
The Metro blog reports that the contractor is making ‘significant progress’ on the Flower street ‘cut and cover’ portion of the tunneling; this segment will connect to the existing 7th/Metro station.
Work will proceed two miles to the existing Wilshire/Western station where the TBMs will be removed; tunneling will then resume to the west from Wilshire/LaBrea to Fairfax and finally to La Cienega (1.8 miles total) in this phase of the project. Operation is scheduled for early 2024-ish.
The project completion has slipped to 2022. As seen on a recent Science Channel program, the construction portal on Flower street now is being used for street restoration: https://www.metro.net/projects/connector/street-restoration-little-tokyo/ The Alameda / 1st portal is being extended to a ‘box’ where the track reaches street level.
After many years of delay Metro finally has announced that the Regional Connector will open on Friday June 16. Hurrah! See more details at these pages:
The existing line from Little Tokyo to Azusa will be relettered from L to A and color blue. The existing line from Little Tokyo to East LA will be relettered from L to E and the whole line will be color gold.