Drivers Prep for Coldwater Canyon Closure
Morning commuters can expect major delays Monday, the first weekday of the closure and throughout the rest of the month.
Coldwater Canyon will be closed between Mulholland Drive and Ventura Boulevard, with the main construction zone between Dickens Street and Hacienda Drive.
The popular travel route is used by an average on 30,000 cars daily. Coldwater Canyon will be closed Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday evening, one lane in each direction will be open.
The closure is due to the Los Angeles Division of Water and Power replacing a 99-year-old water pipe under the 2.1 mile stretch of the road.
"This particular trunk line, it's primary duty is to take 20-thousand gallons of water per minute over the hill into the west Los Angeles area," said Jeff Bray, LADWP District Superintendent.
The pipe originally burst four years ago and spilled 4 million gallons of water into the surrounding community costing $8 million in damages. It is part of LADWP's ongoing City Truck Line replacement project.
Residents of Coldwater Canyon and students of Harvard-Westlake are receiving special access permits to the area, according to the DWP.
"It's actually easier. We turn on Ventura and go down around and come up this street here in the community and they let us go into the school," said Tarrel Florent, a Harvard-Westlake parent.
City officials are suggesting commuters take the following alternative routes which include Cahuenga Boulevard, Highland Avenue, Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Beverly Glen Boulevard, Sepulveda Boulevard and the 405 Freeway.