City Officials Announce 5-Week Closure Of Coldwater Canyon

STUDIO CITY (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles city officials Monday announced a planned five-week closure of Coldwater Canyon Avenue.

Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Tom LaBonge, as well as Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and members of the departments of Water and Power, and Transportation, held an 8:45 a.m. news conference to discuss the closure of the popular 405 Freeway alternative.

Coldwater Canyon will be closed from March 23 to April 26 from Ventura Boulevard to Mulholland Drive.

"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig and this is a pig of a project!" Yaroslavsky said.

The closure will be in place from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, officials said in a statement. Residents will be granted limited access.

The closure is part of a major improvement project to upgrade the city's water infrastructure. Crews will also replace a 60-inch trunk line that burst in 2009, flooding a portion of Studio City with 5 million gallons of water.

"Due to the narrow road conditions of Coldwater Canyon Avenue and the need to use heavy equipment to excavate the road, remove and replace pipe, the thoroughfare must be completely closed to traffic to ensure the safety of the crew and the public," city officials said.

Coldwater Canyon Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction during overnight hours and on Sundays.

Laurel Canyon, Beverly Glen, the 405 and 101 freeways and Metro are suggested alternates.