Skanska, JV Partners Celebrate Completion of LA Metro Purple (D) Line Ext Section 1

Purple Line Los Angeles Metro LA Metro Expo Line Phase 2 extension to Santa Monica Skanska USA Civil

LOS ANGELES - Skanska and its joint venture partners, Traylor Brothers, Inc. and J.F. Shea Construction celebrated the opening of LA Metro Purple (D) Line Extension Section 1 on May 8, 2026.

Project partners came together to celebrate the opening of the extension ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Section 1 extends from the Wilshire/Western Station to Wilshire/ La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cinega stations. By extending service and connecting these stations, the project has improved connectivity across one of the more travelled areas in the region, according to the release.

Since the award in 2014, the project included the construction of twin subway tunnels that run under Wilshire Boulevard, the excavation and construction of three stations underground, integrating systems support for signaling, communications, and traction power infrastructure, and the coordination of complex underground utilities. This project cost $2.4 billion, and construction necessitated complex coordination due to the location. Not only does the area see heavy traffic, but there are also underground utilities and telecommunications systems located beneath Wilshire Boulevard. Additionally, the geological makeup of the area includes “variable subsurface conditions, ground water and tar sand formations.” These necessitated advanced geotechnical monitoring and adaptive tunneling methods.

Some of the innovative methods utilized by crews during construction include using earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines that are designed for soft ground and pressurized excavation conditions. Crews also installed precast concrete tunnel liners after tunneling operations to help form the permanent tunnel structure. Skansa says crews also used conveyor systems to “continuously remove excavated material while minimizing surface disruption.” Throughout tunnel construction, crews continuously monitored gas and underground safety systems to support worker safety. The completion of Section 1 allows for better access to businesses and institutions along the Wilshire Corridor and marks a major milestone for infrastructure in the area. Section 2 is ongoing with station construction in progress in Beverly Hills and Century City. Section 3 also remains under construction in Westwood.

“After more than a decade of construction, this project stands as a reflection of sustained effort, collaboration and innovation across an exceptional team of engineers, craft professionals and project partners,” said Geoffrey Bender, Project Executive of Operations at Skanska USA Civil. “Delivering complex underground infrastructure beneath one of Los Angeles’ most active corridors required persistence, adaptability and precision at every stage. We are deeply grateful to our crews and JV partners whose expertise made this milestone possible, and proud of the innovations and lessons learned along the way that will continue to shape how we deliver major transit projects in the future.”