Careful Coordination on the Coronado Trunk Line
By Albert Rodriguez
One of the greatest challenges LADWP crews encounter when maintaining, repairing or upgrading the water distribution system is the high density of metro L.A. neighborhoods – and the Coronado Trunk Line (CTL) project is no exception. Initiated in 2020 and scheduled for completion in early 2024, the CTL's aim is to temporarily replace the water supply from the 119-year-old Solano Reservoir in Elysian Park, while it undergoes much needed repairs. Water supply to Silver Lake, Echo Park and the Rampart Village service areas will be rerouted from the North and South Toyon Tanks, located in the Hollywood Hills. Once Solano Reservoir comes back online, the CTL will be used as an alternative water supply for Solano when needed.
This significant water rerouting project requires an open trench pipe installation that begins at Beverly Blvd. and Robinson St., snakes its way southwest along Council St., moves northwest along N. Coronado St. under the 101 Freeway and ends at Sunset Blvd. Along the way, a total of 7,400 feet of 12-, 24- and 30-inch welded steel pipe has been installed. Construction also includes four 30-inch butterfly valves, two 24-inch butterfly valves, a regulator station, flow meter and pipe reducer that connects to 24-inch pipe on Sunset Blvd. One notable part of the construction is the installation of a giant, industrial “thimble” under the 101, which helps maintain the structure and integrity of the freeway.
“In order to be successful on a big job like this, you need good organization to be able to reduce inconveniences, accommodate residents and businesses, and work with other utilities,” said Greg Leedom, Senior Water Utility Supervisor on site. “We have to deal with the community, carry out construction and we also coordinate with other LADWP divisions such as the Power System to help us move power lines out of the way in order to bring in cranes and shoring equipment.”
From notifying local residents about the availability of parking and granting them access to blocked-off streets, LADWP crews also have to maintain water service to the community. With creative and well-planned rerouting of water or temporary water supply for residents, LADWP crews make sure that customer needs and expectations are met during construction.
“It’s this proactive engagement and prior planning that helps ensure that we are able to upgrade and maintain the water system without shutting everything down. It’s a real credit to our Crew C that sets the structure and parameters of the work so that our Maintenance Construction Helpers, Welders, Truck Drivers, Protective Coating Workers, Power Shovel Operators, Water Utility Workers and many more can go in and do their job in the safest and most professional manner possible.”
Clemente Valdovinos
Construction Engineer
During construction, crews had to contend with something else that was out-of-the-ordinary. A heavy rainy season this past winter required temporary work shutdowns and pumping of water out of the excavation sites. Luckily the area consists of at type of soil that helped avoid any impacts to the trench shoring. And although it made for a muddy work environment, LADWP crews carried on with their work to provide L.A. residents with safe, reliable, quality drinking water.
Work on the CTL project has required a major team effort from many groups within Water and Joint Systems. The project is being carried out by Water Distribution Division (WDD) Trunk Line Construction Crews A and C and supported by WDD Trunk Line Construction Support and Management. Other support groups include Water Operations, Water Engineering and Technical Services, Water Quality, Environmental Affairs, Communications and Corporate Strategy and Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs.
Photos by Chris Corsmeier
Project Map
Editor’s Note – July 3, 2023:
Since the release of this article on June 29, 2023 it has been updated to correct the project completion date. Due to weather impacts on work, and in anticipation of increased water demands in the summer, the Coronado Trunk Line project’s completion date has been moved to early 2024.
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