Skanska Celebrates Opening of LA Metro Purple (D) Line Extension Section 1

After a Decade of Construction, New Underground Rail Service Along Wilshire Boulevard Marks Major Milestone for Transit Expansion in Los Angeles –

Los Angeles, CA – (May 14, 2026) – Skanska, a leading global construction and development firm, along with its joint venture partners, Traylor Brothers, Inc. and J.F. Shea Construction, celebrated the opening of Section 1 of the LA Metro Purple (D) Line Extension on May 8, 2026.  The Skanska Traylor Shea joint venture joined the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), civic leaders, project partners and community stakeholders to celebrate the opening of the new underground transit extension serving communities along the Wilshire Corridor, and the wider region.

Section 1 extends subway service west from the existing Wilshire/Western station through three new underground stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega. As the first segment of LA Metro’s broader expansion to Westwood, the project improves connectivity across one of the region’s most heavily traveled corridors while providing a faster and more reliable alternative to driving.

“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.”

Awarded in 2014, the $2.4 billion project included:

• Construction of twin subway tunnels beneath Wilshire Boulevard;
• Deep excavation and structural construction of three underground stations;
• Coordination of complex underground utility infrastructure; and
• Systems integration support for signaling, communications and traction power infrastructure.

Construction required continuous coordination within one of Los Angeles’ busiest urban corridors, where crews worked around sewer, electrical, gas, water and telecommunications systems beneath Wilshire Boulevard. Variable subsurface conditions, groundwater and tar sand formations required advanced geotechnical monitoring and adaptive tunneling methods throughout construction.

Key construction innovations and project features included:

• Use of earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines designed for soft ground and pressurized excavation conditions;
• Installation of precast concrete tunnel liners immediately behind tunneling operations to form the permanent tunnel structure;
• Deployment of conveyor systems to continuously remove excavated material while minimizing surface disruption; and
• Continuous gas monitoring and underground safety systems to support worker safety throughout tunneling and excavation activities.

The project also incorporated sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impacts. Skanska deployed zero-emission construction equipment on the project, including the Volvo EC230 Electric excavator and the battery-powered HAMM HD 12e VV, while groundwater treatment systems supported responsible water management throughout construction.

Excavation activities uncovered more than 500 Ice Age fossils, including mammoths, bison, horses and giant ground sloths. Many of the discoveries were preserved and to be seen at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the La Brea Tar Pits for scientific study and curation.

LA Metro, the region’s primary transit agency, builds and operates an extensive rail and bus network across Los Angeles County. Through major expansion projects like the Purple (D) Line Extension, it is strengthening regional connectivity, improving access to jobs and major destinations and delivering a more reliable alternative to driving in one of the nation’s most car-dependent regions. This opening marks a major milestone for transportation infrastructure in Southern California.

The completion of Section 1 strengthens access to major employment centers and cultural institutions along the Wilshire Corridor, including LACMA, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the La Brea Tar Pits. The project also supports Los Angeles’ continued investment in regional mobility ahead of major global events including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

‍About Skanska

Skanska uses knowledge & foresight to shape the way people live, work and connect. More than 135 years in the making, we’re one of the world’s largest construction and project development companies. With operations in select markets throughout the Nordics, Europe and the United States, global revenue totaled $18.3 billion in 2025. Skanska in the U.S. operates 28 offices across the country, with its headquarters in New York City. In 2025, the U.S. development and construction streams generated $8.7 billion in revenue. Together with our customers and the collective expertise of our 6,500 teammates in the U.S. and 25,900 globally, we create innovative and sustainable solutions that support healthy living beyond our lifetime.

For further information please contact

Meghan Carvalho, Communications Manager, Skanska, (951) 675-2337

Donna Haldipur, for Skanska, (424) 363-0848, dhaldipur@marinopr.com

This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com.

Originally reported by Skanska.