At the end of November 2020 the tunnelling averages for the Purple Line (Line D) Extension were Section 1: 94.4% complete and Section 2: 2.9 % complete. 

Section 1 

The twin TBMs creating the tunnels for Section 1 of the Purple Line Extension Project continue to push west to the Wilshire/La Cienega Station, the western most station in Section 1. TBM Elsie and Soyeon are within 500 feet of the San Vicente Bl and Wilshire Bl intersection. They will pause there while workers investigate an anomaly found between the TBMs and the Wilshire/La Cienega Station.  Breakthrough at Wilshire/La Cienega Station is anticipated to occur in January 2021. 

 Section 2 

The second section of the Purple Line Extension Transit Project includes 2.59 miles of additional tracks to the Metro’s Rail system and two new stations at Wilshire/Rodeo and Century City/Constellation.  

During December the contractor will continue excavating the Wilshire/Rodeo Station box from the current 70 feet down to 100 feet deep and they will continue to haul the materials from staging yards.  

Instruments continue to be installed along the tunnel alignment to La Cienega Bl and around the station box area in order to monitor ground movement, settlement, and other geological impacts.

TBM Ruth and Harriet,  have launched eastbound, and have advanced by 4% and 2% respectively. The TBMs will tunnel from Century City through Beverly Hills for approximately 2 years before meeting with Section 1 of the Purple Line Extension near Wilshire Blvd./La Cienega Blvd. 

Section 3  

The last section of the Purple Line Extension Transit Project, Section 3, will add 2.56 miles of new rail to the Metro’s Rail system and connect downtown Los Angeles to the Westside. Two new stations will be added at Wilshire/Westwood and on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs property.  

TBMs Aura and IRIS are now being assembled in readiness for them to dig two parallel tunnels between Westwood and the VA Hospital. 

Click here and us/41 for the tunnelbuilder archive.  For more information on the Purple Line Extension Project visit www.metro.net/purplelineext  and https://thesource.metro.net.  50/20.