By Daniel Larios
Staff Writer

March 21, 2014 -- The City of Santa Monica will close 17th Street on Colorado Avenue for 11 consecutive days starting Saturday to install rails for the new Expo line project, City officials said.

Construction teams will work around the clock installing the line's tracks and temporary electronic message boards, directional signage and flaggers will direct vehicles and pedestrians around the construction zone, officials said.

To handle the flow of traffic, northbound 17th Street will be detoured at Olympic Boulevard, and the southbound lanes will be detoured at Santa Monica Boulevard.

Traffic going through Colorado Boulevard will be minimally affected by the closure, according to city officials.  Eastbound traffic on Colorado Boulevard will be detoured to southbound 17th street, and westbound Colorado Boulevard will remain open.

“Please obey all posted construction signs and do not enter the construction work zones,” warned City officials.

Parking restrictions will be strictly enforced at all time and clear signage with specific instructions will be in place around the construction site.

The City is also taking steps to ameliorate what could become a noisy and dirty nuisance. “Noise levels will be monitored to ensure compliance and the work areas will be watered down to minimize dust,” said City officials.

The Expo Line in Santa Monica will consist of three stations, a maintenance facility, a bike path and approximately three miles of trackway, according to transit officials.

In addition to the Colorado Avenue/17th Street station,  there will be stations at Olympic/26th Street (Bergamot Station) and at 4th/Colorado (Downtown Station).

The Expo line from Culver City to Santa Monica, which is scheduled to be completed in early 2016, “is a significant and long-term public investment in transit, city-wide and regional mobility, and sustainability,” City officials said.

As many as 400 passengers are expected to get on and off the trains every five minutes during peak hours.

The Expo line, which will connect the bayside city to Downtown LA, “will provide Santa Monica residents, employees, students and visitors with easier access to major destinations both locally and regionally,” officials said.

For more information on the project or for a copy of the detour map, contact the City of Santa Monica Public Works Department at (310) 458-8736 or visit smgov.net or buildexpo.org.