To continue the $1.2 billion overhaul of the Metro Blue Line, the region’s oldest light rail system, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) plans four weekend closures that will affect travelers to Long Beach.
The Metro Blue Line Pacific Coast Highway and Anaheim stations in Long Beach will each receive a second canopy along with improvements such as lighting, new paint, replacement of worn or damaged tiles and the installation of new tracks and track beds.
Weekend work will be done from 9 p.m. on Friday until 5 a.m. on Monday on the following weekends:
November 7 through November 10
November 14 through November 17
November 21 through November 24
December 5 through December 8
Stations comprising the downtown Long Beach loop – the Fifth Street, First Street, Downtown Long Beach and Pacific Avenue stations will be closed on the affected weekends. The noisiest work will occur during daytime hours with nearby residents advised beforehand. There will be no work over the Thanksgiving weekend, November 27-30.
To minimize inconvenience, Metro will provide a free bus shuttle that will begin and end at the Willow Street station. The bus shuttle will operate during normal hours and will make stops at all the closed stations, using existing bus stops.
From November 7 through December 8, the will also be work on weeknights from 9 p.m. – 4 a.m. with minimal disruption to Blue Line Service. Long Beach loop with work completed on time.
The Metro Blue Line first began operation in July, 1991 and, with nearly 90,000 daily boardings, is one of the busiest light rail lines in the country. The Blue Line connects the downtowns of Long Beach and Los Angeles with stops at Staples Center, the famed Watts Towers and tourist attractions such as the Aquarium of the Pacific.
