CAC Meeting

Departing from its usual concentration on construction updates, the August 26 Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting focused on committee requests that have been resolved and those still pending.

Dan Kulka, Kiewit Infrastructure West’s public relations manager, spoke about the recent work slow-down by heavy equipment operators who are part of a union seeking a new collective bargaining agreement. Kiewit Infrastructure West is the prime contractor on the I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvement Project.

Devon Cichoski, community relations manager, shows the Community Advisory
Committee the letter she sent them.

While work continues, Kulka told the CAC members that some construction has been delayed. He added that it was unclear if the continuing work slow-down would affect the overall construction schedule.

The meeting was held in Room C of the Westwood Recreation Center.

Becky Snodgrass-Lambert, public art manager, City of Los Angeles, joined with the Greenmeme design team to present the final tile design for the 1720/1730 retaining walls. The walls will be constructed next year on Sepulveda Bl between Montana Av and Sunset Bl. Snodgrass-Lambert listed community suggestions that had been incorporated into the final wall design. Overall, the final design was simplified, she explained, which should reduce its maintenance requirements and lengthen its life.

In response to an audience question, Brian Howe, one of the designers of the wall finish, explained that the final design features over 830 separate tiles.

Michael Barbour, the project director, provided an overview of the Sunset Bridge demolition, noting that few noise complaints were received during the nine-day demolition. Based on the limited number of complaints, Barbour believes the additional sound blankets used by Kiewit during demolition proved effective.

Switching to a topic outside the core project goals, Barbour told the audience that his team was refining the design of bicycle facilities within the 10-mile-long project boundaries. Barbour cautioned that final decisions on bicycle facilities and their locations would occur later rather than sooner because of issues to be settled among Metro, Caltrans and the City of Los Angeles.

Linda Taheripar, CAC member, asks questions of Mason Situ, Mulholland
Segment manager, at the August 26 meeting.

During her overview of construction work during the next 30 days, Kasey Shuda, community relations officer for Wilshire Segment, noted that multiple utilities will have to be moved at Ohio Av. She also explained that designers were revaluating the noise modeling for the sound walls at Beloit Av.

Addressing questions about construction of the new Skirball Center Dr on- and off-ramps to the I-405—questions that have dominated recent CAC meetings—Ron Macias, community relations officer for the Mulholland Segment, shared that the anticipated date to begin demolition of Skirball Bridge would be October 12.

According to Macias, the seven nights of demolition would require two weeks of “directional closures” from midnight to 5am. Directional closures block off one direction of the freeway at a time.

Macias stated that preconstruction activities for the reconstruction of the Skirball on- and off-ramps should begin in late September. Mason Situ, Mulholland Segment manager, estimated that the south side of Skirball Bridge (Phase 2) would be demolished in May 2011.

Utility relocation will require three months of work before demolition of the northern half of Mulholland Bridge can begin, according to Macias. Mulholland Bridge demolition is tentatively scheduled for early 2011.

Kasey Shuda, Community Relations Officer, answers questions from CAC
members Barbara Broide and Matthew Hissom while Stephen Murray,
Wilshire Segment Manager, listens.

Two CAC members asked that ramp closure signage occur farther before the closed ramp. Mark Van Gessel, Sunset Segment manager, said he would work with Caltrans to see if that would be possible. Van Gessel emphasized that I-405 construction was following the Caltrans standard for signage.

Offering her 30-day look-ahead schedule for Sunset Segment, Olga Arroyo, Community Relations officer, said that tree removal at Montana Av has been completed. Pile driving at the 1720/1730 wall location should begin soon.

Before inviting CAC members to break into groups (by segment) to discuss their pending requests, Devon Cichoski, community relations manager, distributed a list of the completed CAC requests. The completed requests fell into four categories: Traffic Mitigations, Construction Impact Mitigations, Communications Improvements and Information/Presentation Requests.

Paul Gamberg, a CAC member, listens during the CAC meeting August 26.

We look to you to advice us on how we can minimize our effects on your community,” Cichoski told CAC members before they broke into groups. “This list of completed requests could not have happened without you.”

Ned Racine