January 11, 2008 Contact José Ubaldo/Marc Littman Metro Media Relations♥ 213.922.3087/922.4609 www.metro.net/pressroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First Street Bridge will be closed to traffic beginning Jan. 27 as part of construction of Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension

• Closure delayed one week: The full closure was originally scheduled to begin Sunday, January 20.

The First Street Bridge between Mission Road and Vignes Street in the Little Tokyo/Arts District near downtown Los Angeles will be closed for approximately one month beginning Sunday, January 27, for construction of the right-of-way for the rail track for the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension light rail project. The full closure was announced first for Sunday, January 20, but it was delayed one week.

Work will begin Sunday at 7 p.m. when First Street will be re-striped and then the construction of the right-of-way at the medium of the street will continue on a 24-hour basis, including weekends.

The closure is expected to last approximately one month, weather permitting.

Residents and motorists should be aware there will be no vehicular access to the bridge except for emergency vehicles, however, pedestrian traffic will be allowed on the south side of the bridge. Westbound traffic on First Street will be detoured northbound on Mission Road to westbound Cesar Chavez, then southbound on Alameda Street to westbound First Street.

The primary detour for eastbound traffic will be northbound on Alameda Street then eastbound on Cesar Chavez to southbound State Street and finally eastbound on First Street. The alternate detour for eastbound traffic will be southbound on Alameda Street to eastbound Fourth Street then northbound on Cummings and finally eastbound on First Street.

The bus stops for the Metro Bus service will be temporarily relocated in and around the construction zone as follows: Eastbound bus stop on First and Vignes streets will be relocated to First and Alameda streets; First Street and Mission Road will be relocated to First and Utah streets. No change for westbound buses.

Before the full street closure on the bridge takes place, Metro construction crews will be delivering rail tracks on First and Alameda Street beginning Friday, January 11, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for the next four days. Westbound traffic on First Street will have intermittent closures of 10 minutes to allow the delivery of the rail tracks for the segment near Little Tokyo/Arts District station.

Residents should expect local access to homes, businesses, inclusive of the Savoy complex garage and emergency vehicles. Metro construction personnel will help to re-direct traffic.

On Monday, January 21, the construction of the right-of-way across the intersection of First Street and Mission Road will begin on a 24-hour basis for approximately one month. Northbound and southbound through lanes will be closed to traffic. Only right turns will be allowed.

Truck drivers are advised not to take the north and south 101 Freeway off-ramps at Mission Road. Instead, take the 101 Freeway off-ramps at First Street, travel westbound on First Street, to southbound Utah, and to westbound Third Street. The Fourth Street off-ramps are also an option.

For access to the north 101 Freeway on-ramp, proceed east on First Street. For access to the south 101 Freeway, northbound and southbound I-5 Freeway on-ramps proceed east on Fourth Street.

In Boyle Heights, beginning Monday, January 14, Metro will re-stripe First Street at Indiana Street and then will begin utility relocation and civil improvements such as street lights, curbs, gutters, sidewalks on the south side of First Street in preparation for rail track installation. Over the following two months, eastbound lanes on First Street will remain closed between Velasco and Alma streets except for local access.

Residents, motorists and business owners should be aware that westbound traffic on First Street will be maintained. Eastbound through traffic on First Street will be detoured to northbound Lorena onto eastbound Cesar Chavez then southbound on Rowan and back to eastbound on First Street.

Indiana Street will be closed south of First Street. Pedestrian traffic will be rerouted to a safe area outside the construction zone. Emergency vehicle access will be maintained at all times.

The Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension, which will feature eight stations (two underground), will span six miles from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles via the Arts District/Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights to Atlantic/Pomona Boulevards in East Los Angeles. It is scheduled to open in 2009.

Residents who need more information should contact Metro Community Relations at (213) 922-2259 or visit Metro website at www.metro.net/project_programs/eastside/street_closures.htm for up-to-date street closures information.

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