LA Metro Regional Connector Transit Project: Successful Halfway-Through Completion

摘要

The Regional Connector Transit Project is a 1.9-mile long underground light rail system that will connect LA Metro's Blue, Expo and Gold Lines in downtown Los Angeles. This $1.81-billion design-build project is expected to be completed in winter 2021-2022. The project consists of 21-foot diameter twin-bored tunnels, a 287-foot long crossover SEM cavern, three new underground stations (at 1st Street/Central Avenue, 2nd Street/Broadway Avenue, and 2nd/Hope Streets), and cut-and-cover tunnels along South Flower, Alameda, and 1st Streets. Final designs have been completed and the construction has reached the halfway-through completion milestone. Bored tunneling was successfully completed with little to no ground settlements. Excavation of the 36-feet high by 58-feet wide, 287-feet long SEM cavern has started, with completion scheduled by early 2019. This paper will provide overview of design elements and challenges experienced to date, as well as an update of construction progress on major components of this complex transit project.