LOS ANGELES (April 26, 2018) – Benedict Canyon map – Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) will be instituting a partial closure at Benedict Canyon Drive and Liebe Drive from May 1, 2018 to November 30, 2018 from Mulholland Drive to Hutton Drive in order to increase water system reliability and improve existing fire protection in the area. The road closure will take place between the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on scheduled Saturdays. Benedict Canyon Drive and Liebe Drive will be open to traffic outside of the closure hours. Local residents and designated visitors will be provided access to homes and businesses during the closure.
The seven month project is part of a continuing effort to improve the water system infrastructure throughout LADWP’s service area. LADWP will replace 5,200 feet of aging pipe with new steel pipe and add four new fire hydrants along this stretch of Benedict Canyon Drive, and Liebe Drive.
“When it comes to projects of this nature, there is never a convenient time for infrastructure updates. Although we recognize the inconvenience it may cause in the short term, the long term benefits will serve the needs of our residents and families in the area” said Councilmember Paul Koretz of the Fifth district. “The plan and mitigations in place is a result of an exhaustive collaboration between City agencies and community partnerships and we are most grateful for your cooperation.”
“Serving our customers and this community is always our top priority,” LADWP Chief Operating Officer Martin L. Adams said. “The replacement of aging water system infrastructure is necessary in order to continue to provide the highest quality water service possible. We have worked very hard to minimize the impact this project will have and we are deeply appreciative of your patience, cooperation and understanding.”
LADWP has worked closely with local residents and the office of Councilmember Paul Koretz (Council District 5) to minimize impact of the project on the community and those who use Benedict Canyon Drive regularly. LADWP has also coordinated with other local agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and Los Angeles Emergency Management Department (EMD) to manage traffic, monitor local access to the work area, and maintain fire and emergency access at all times throughout the course of the project.
This project is part of a larger effort to upgrade LADWP water system infrastructure throughout its service area. LADWP plans to ramp up the replacement of water distribution mainline to bring the pipe replacement cycle closer to the expected average pipe life cycle of 100 years by 2023. During the 2015-16 fiscal year, LADWP set a replacement goal of 150,000 feet of mainline pipe, and exceeded that goal. In 2016-17, the replacement goal was 184,000 feet, and LADWP exceeded that goal also. Currently in the 2017-18 fiscal year, LADWP has replaced more than 76 percent of its goal of 215,000 feet, at 155,000 feet. Much of this work has been made possible in part by the LADWP rate increases approved by the Los Angeles City Council and the Mayor in March, 2016, and which took effect on April 15, 2016.
Additional traffic and access information:
- Access to homes and businesses within the closure will be provided to local residents and designated visitors; LADWP has issued passes for this purpose, and will distribute additional passes as needed. Delivery vehicles will also be allowed access. Trash services will remain the same in the project area.
- Officers from LADWP Security Services will be stationed on Benedict Canyon Drive at Mulholland Drive and Hutton Drive – the north and south entry points of the closure – to monitor access.
- Traffic officers will be stationed along Mulholland Drive and neighboring roads in order to manage any increase in traffic flow that may result from the closing of Benedict Canyon Drive. Electronic message boards will also be in place.
- LADWP staff will be on site in and around the closure area during construction hours to monitor progress and make adjustments when necessary, as well as to respond to the needs of the community, especially in the early stages of the project.
- In order to provide adequate space for construction work and traffic, LADOT will post “Temporary Tow-Away, No Parking” signs on Liebe Drive, within the work zones. We ask that residents and visitors please observe all posted parking restrictions. Vehicles parked in the temporary no-parking zone will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
- Benedict Canyon Drive will remain open in observance of the following holidays: Memorial Day (May 28); Independence Day (July 4); Labor Day (September 3); Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 8); Veterans’ Day (November 12) and Thanksgiving (November 22-23).
- Visit the project website for updates on road closures and traffic conditions: ladwp.com/BenedictCanyon
- A dedicated hotline number has been added for residents requiring further assistance during closures: 213-367-1222.
- Project updates will also be posted on LADWP’s Facebook at www.facebook.com/LADWP and Twitter at https://twitter.com/LADWP
Contacts:
Michael Ventre – LADWP Community Affairs
Michael.Ventre@ladwp.com
(213) 804-4767
Alison Simard – Office of Councilmember Paul Koretz
alison.simard@lacity.org
O: 213-473-7005
C: 213-505-7467
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