The long-awaited (and delayed!) Tesla Avenue segment of the Silver Lake Path is finally about to begin construction! This has been a critical part of the popular path, and after several design revisions, approvals and securing of funding we will soon have a safe, pleasant addition to the path.
Pedestrians and motorists know how narrow and dangerous this stretch of the incomplete route is, and it will be even more important to observe the temporary construction detours. Here are the details:
Tesla Avenue is now ONE WAY Westbound only, from Armstrong Avenue to West Silver Lake Drive, with no parking. The DWP has also established a pedestrian detour around the site, and it is essential for safety that joggers and walkers follow the detour.
The pedestrian detour bypasses Tesla and routes pedestrians on Armstrong Avenue to West Silver Lake Drive, for an additional 1/6 mile. Please follow this detour day and night. As there will be only one narrow lane of vehicle travel and much construction activity all along Tesla, we want to be sure everyone stays safe!
Here's what the new path will include: A pleasant new rounded corner will be created at the corner of West Silver Lake Drive. This will improve safety at this blind intersection, where a pedestrian was injured in an accident just a few months ago. Under the shady pine grove, a new rest bench will be added.
The biggest part of the project involves notching out a section of the Ivanhoe Reservoir Dam to allow for the path, which will have an attractive new retaining wall and fence.
The path will meander slightly through an olive grove adjacent to the Neighborhood Nursery School, and the School will have its fence moved back to accommodate the path.
Finally, a section of fence at the Armstrong Ave. corner of Tesla will be removed next to the Reservoir entrance station, and a bench will be added at that location.
This project has been carefully designed with attention to dam and pedestrian safety, with every effort to make it both a safe and aesthetic addition to the neighborhood. Your Silver Lake Reservoirs Conservancy has been working with the DWP to ensure the best solution to the many aspects of this project. To create the path, DWP will be doing the work with their own crews. We're excited to see it finally coming to fruition, and we're sure all path users will be happy as well!
So: be sure to follow the detour signs throughout the construction period! We don't want anyone to be injured, and the DWP has also noted that pedestrians can also delay their work. Construction is slated to be completed by the beginning of October.
