Commission approves Olympic Boulevard closure to speed Montebello grade-separation work; temporary stop sign ordered at Greenwood and Truckway

The Montebello Traffic and Safety Commission on June 30 approved a request from the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to close Olympic Boulevard at Montebello Boulevard during construction of a new underpass and to install a temporary stop sign at Greenwood Avenue and Truckway.

San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments civil engineer Carrie Inseong told commissioners the project will build an underpass so Montebello Boulevard passes beneath the Union Pacific tracks and Olympic Boulevard, realign Roosevelt Avenue, add a bike lane, sidewalks and a pump station, and upgrade crossings at Greenwood, Maple and Vail. Inseong said closing Olympic for construction would reduce the work from about 29 months to about 23 months, allowing the corridor to reopen roughly six months sooner.

"If we don't close Olympic Boulevard...construction to take 29 months. If we are able to close…