LADWP Power Reliability Project to Begin April 2 in Los Feliz

Traffic Control Plans Aimed at Reducing Impact on Community

The Los Feliz Power Reliability Project will involve installing a new underground and overhead 4.8-kilovolt circuit to prevent and alleviate overload conditions on the existing four adjacent circuits, which combined serve roughly 5,500 customers in the community.

Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Fourth District, was joined by LADWP representatives in a press conference today to discuss the upcoming construction project. “Reliability is key, and this project will provide a critical new circuit to add power capacity as well as relieve existing circuits,” Councilmember LaBonge said. “I encourage everyone to have patience and work around this, taking alternative routes.”

LADWP has worked with the Fourth District Council office, the Los Feliz Improvement Association, and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation on traffic control plans to reduce impacts on the community. Alternative routes will be well marked by signage. Traffic mitigation measures include changing the construction hours to reduce congestion during rush hour, and adding traffic control officers at key intersections to move traffic more efficiently through the construction site.

“Our crews will work safely and efficiently to ensure the construction is completed on time. We will continue working with the community and the Council office to reduce the impact on traffic wherever possible,” said Aram Benyamin, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager – Power.

In describing the need for the project, Benyamin said that circuits typically should handle no more than 80 percent of the energy demand in a neighborhood. The four existing circuits that feed power to Los Feliz have been exceeding 80 percent on a regular basis. In addition, the power demand is expected to grow an average of 1 percent each year – 10 percent over the next decade.

“So, the work we are starting this week will ensure power reliability for the next 10 years here in Los Feliz,” Benyamin said.

The construction project, which will be done in three phases, involves installing 1,750 feet of conduit, and over 6,000 feet of various cables and related equipment. LADWP will also construct two underground vaults necessary to build and maintain the circuit. The new circuit will typically carry about 2,700 kilowatts of power.

Phase 1: April 2 through early May
Intersection of Los Feliz Boulevard and Hillhurst Avenue
No left turns will be allowed Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The construction schedule was shifted from a start-time of 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and extended to 6 p.m., to accommodate traffic in the westbound lanes that are more critical during morning rush hour.

Phase 2: Early May through late June
Los Feliz Boulevard, between Vermont Avenue and Cheswic Lane
Traffic reduced to one lane in each direction from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. A second crew was added for Phase 2 to shorten the duration of construction from three months to 6 to 8 weeks.

Phase 3: Late June through Fall 2013
Los Feliz Boulevard, reduced to one lane in each direction at various intervals.
Traffic control officers will be on-site to assist vehicles in traveling efficiently through the construction site, and all lanes will be reopened at the end of each work day. Access to driveways and alleys will be maintained at all times.

For more information, visit www.ladwp.com/ or click here for location maps and traffic control information. Updates to construction plans will also be posted at www.ladwp.com.

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