L.A. Metro's Regional Connector tunnels nearly finished

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in 2017 "nearly completed" mining twin tunnels for the Regional Connector light-rail project, agency officials announced in a blog post.

The tunnels run from the city's Little Tokyo neighborhood to the financial district, according to the post summarizing progress on the project. Each tunnel measures about 5,700 feet in length and is made of 1,140 pre-cast concrete rings.

The agency also has relocated major utilities along the 1.9-mile alignment. The Regional Connect project will connect the Blue, Expo and Gold light-rail lines via the twin tunnels below downtown Los Angeles.

The route is expected to make light-rail trips to and through downtown faster with fewer transfers needed.

In 2018, work will continue to build the Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill Station, which is the project's deepest station. Crews will pour concrete to build the station's floors and walls.