The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will begin an eight-month street restoration project in the area of the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station next week, affecting traffic through Aug. 31.

The work is part of the Regional Connector Transit Project, a 1.9-mile underground light-rail extension that will connect the A Line (Blue), the E Line (Expo) and the L Line (Gold) in downtown Los Angeles and will include three new stations at First Street/Central Avenue, Second Street/Broadway and Second Place/Hope Street.

Metro officials said the rail line is expected to serve 88,000 riders daily, including 17,000 new riders, and save commuters up to 20 minutes by eliminating the need to transfer between the rail lines.

The project is expected to be completed in 2022.

Scheduled street restrictions are:

— A full westbound street closure along First Street from Vignes Street to Alameda Street will begin Jan. 10 and remain in effect through May 1.

— Nine weekend closures of the intersection of First and Alameda streets from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday will take place Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31, Feb. 7, 14, 21, May 1 and Aug. 28.

Additional street closures along First Street from Central Avenue to Alameda Street will occur from May 4 through Aug. 31.

Access to adjacent businesses will be maintained at all times, and pedestrian crosswalks on First and Alameda streets may be restricted intermittently during the restoration work.

Recommended detours for motorists include:

— For the westbound First Street closure: right on Vignes Street, left on Temple Street, left on Judge John Aiso Street, right on First Street.

— For the First Street closure from Central Avenue to Alameda Street: eastbound traffic should turn left on Judge John Aiso Street, right on Temple Street, right on Vignes Street, left on First Street.

— Westbound traffic should go right on Vignes Street, left on Temple Street, left on Judge John Aiso Street, right on First Street.

— For the First Street and Alameda Street intersection weekend closures: westbound First Street traffic should go right on the northbound Hollywood (101) Freeway, take the East Cesar Chavez Avenue exit onto Pleasant Avenue, left on East Cesar Chavez Avenue, left on Spring Street, right on First Street.

— Eastbound First Street traffic should go left on Main Street, right on Cesar Chavez Avenue, right on Mission Road, left on First Street.

— For northbound Alameda Street: left on Third Street, right on San Pedro Street, right on Temple Street, left on Alameda Street.

— For southbound Alameda Street: right on Temple Street, left on Judge John Aiso Street, left on Fourth Street, right on Alameda Street.

Crews will remove temporary roadway materials that were used to facilitate excavation and construction of the tunnel beneath the street, and Metro officials said motorists should plan ahead and allow for extra time on their commute into Little Tokyo/Arts District area.

More information on the Regional Connector Transit Project is available at www.metro.net/regionalconnector.

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