L.A. Metro to build first Purple Line extension subway station

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) later this week will begin construction of the Wilshire/La Brea underground station for the Metro Purple Line extension project.

Starting June 10, the agency will hold the first in a series of weekend-only closures along Wilshire Boulevard along L.A.'s Miracle Mile to make way for the station.

Contractor Skanska, Traylor and Shea (STS) will excavate a portion of Wilshire Boulevard and replace it with concrete deck panels that will act as a temporary street surface during underground excavation. The work is part of the agency's first major station construction for the $6.3 billion subway extension project.

The Wilshire/La Brea underground station will be the first of three subway stations for the project.

The 22-weekend closure of Wilshire Boulevard will consist of three separate decking phases.

The first section of the Metro Purple Line extension project now under construction will add nearly 4 miles of subway from the Wilshire/Western Purple Line station west to Wilshire/La Cienega. Construction began in early 2015. The first section is slated to open in 2023.