Overnight traffic on a major West Los Angeles thoroughfare could be snarled for the next two months starting Monday night as Southern California Gas Co. digs up a pipeline as part of a region-wide program to test the integrity of its natural gas transmission lines.
The work will begin on Sepulveda Boulevard just south of Wilshire Boulevard and is expected to continue for eight to 10 weeks, ending north of Pico Boulevard. Most of the work will be performed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. to avoid impacting heavy daytime traffic.
The utility noted, however, that around-the-clock work could occur on or around July 25 and Aug. 2. The work could force lane closures on Wilshire, Santa Monica, Olympic and Pico Boulevards, but the closures will not occur during peak travel times, according to SoCalGas. There may also be temporary street closures leading to Sepulveda at Tennessee and Massachusetts avenues.
No interruption of natural gas service is anticipated for SoCalGas customers, according to the utility.
The work is part of SoCalGas’ Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan, which was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in 2014.
“PSEP is a big program and we’re repairing and testing lines and replacing where we need to all over Southern California,” according to Melissa Bailey of SoCalGas.
In 2011, the CPUC ordered all natural-gas line operators in the state to test their lines and replace them as needed.
—City News Service