Local News Briefs

Lincoln, Colorado to be Rerouted

April 21-28

Construction will close the intersection of Lincoln and Colorado Avenue from Monday, April 21 to April 28th, in order to install railroad for the new Expo line project, Santa Monica City officials said.

City officials are urging motorists to be prepared for the extended traffic delays and detours that construction will likely cause. Santa Monica residents should be quite used to such things by now.

Construction work will continue around the clock to install the line's tracks, and also temporary electronic message boards. During the work, directional signage and flagmen will direct vehicles and pedestrians around the construction zone.

To alleviate traffic congestion, northbound Lincoln Boulevard will detour to Olympic. Southbound traffic will reroute to Santa Monica Boulevard. 11th street will serve as an alternate route for both southbound and northbound traffic in the area.

Colorado Avenue will also be closed to through traffic between 7th Street and 9th Street, said officials. Eastbound traffic will be detoured at 7th Street and westbound traffic will be detoured at 11th Street. Santa Monica Boulevard will be used as an alternate road for both eastbound and westbound traffic.

The Lincoln Boulevard exit from the Interstate 10 freeway will remain open and northbound traffic will be rerouted to 7th Street.

"We are encouraging motorists to use the Cloverfield Boulevard exit as an alternate route," officials said.

Bill That Would End Orca Shows Stalls

A California bill that sought to end killer whale shows at SeaWorld in San Diego and phase out their captivity was put on hold Tuesday, dousing an escalating fight between animal activists and supporters of the major tourist attraction.

The bill's author, Democrat Richard Bloom of Santa Monica, agreed during the bill's first hearing before the water, parks and wildlife committee to revisit his proposal after further study. As a result, AB2140 is dead for this year, and the soonest lawmakers could vote on the proposal would be mid-2015 following additional hearings.

"It's unfortunate that much of the conversation has been fueled ... by fear and invective and misinformation," Bloom said. "It's clear that many committee members are simply unprepared to make a decision on the bill."

The bill would have banned the import, export and breeding of orcas while requiring SeaWorld San Diego to move its 10 killer whales out of tanks and into larger sea pens.