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| Three Questions for Gary Lee Moore, City Engineer | Cool Community Features |
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Q: What's been the most exciting aspect of the project so far?
The 23 foundations columns of the viaduct are 10 feet in diameter and go as deep as 150 feet, making this an extremely seismically-safe bridge. I can't tell you how exciting it was several months ago to see the first foundation hole being drilled and then the reinforcement cage being lowered into the ground. That was a great day. Q: We've heard that the new viaduct will have LED-lit arches that can change color. What color(s) do you think the arches should be the night the viaduct officially opens?
A: As a lifelong Dodger fan, I might vote for Dodger blue. Or maybe UCLA's blue and gold, the colors of my alma mater. But no matter what color they are that night, it will be a beautiful sight. |
The Sixth Street Viaduct will have many features that serve members of the community who are not accessing the new bridge via their car. Many features were specifically designed for pedestrians and cyclists. For example, on both sides of the viaduct, sidewalks will range from 8’ to 14’, far wider than the standard city sidewalk. This makes it easier for people to walk together over the bridge, as well providing additional space for people with mobility challenges. There will also be bike lanes on both sides of the viaduct that are 10’ wide, giving cyclists a safe and fun way to cross the bridge away from pedestrians.  On both sides of the LA River, there will be ramp structures providing both cyclists and pedestrians access to and from ground level. The east ramp will be a 3 1/2 helical (spiral) structure serving both the north and south sides of the viaduct, and the west ramp will be a 510’ long ramp connecting the north side of the viaduct to ground level near Mateo Street. Also along the viaduct, there will be five sets of stairs connecting the ground to the viaduct sidewalk, giving people many paths to choose from when they choose to explore the structure. |
| Photo of the Month | What's Happening in the River |
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This month's photo is taken from the 4th Street Bridge looking south toward the 7th Street Bridge. The platform on the east side of the LA River was built so we could install a foundation column in the LA River that will help support the deck of the viaduct. |
| About the Project | Stay Involved! |
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The Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project is a new, 3,500-foot long viaduct connecting Boyle Heights and the Arts District across the Los Angeles River. The original viaduct was built in 1932, but had significantly deteriorated due to "concrete cancer"; it was demolished in 2016. The new viaduct will have ten pairs of lit arches, bike lanes and wider sidewalks, along with stairway access and bike ramps connecting to 12 acres of recreational and open space under the bridge. The $482 million dollar project is the largest bridge project in the history of the city. The bridge is funded primarily through the Federal Highway Administration, with additional City support. The viaduct is expected to be completed by the end of 2020. |
Follow us on Facebook (@sixtstreetbridge), Twitter (@6thstviaduct) and Instagram (@6thstviaduct) And check out our website at www.sixthstreetviaduct.orgThe Bureau of Engineering is the City's lead agency for the planning, design and construction management of the City's public buildings and its public infrastructure. Engineering is also responsible for managing permitting for all construction that takes place in the public right-of-way, as well as managing the City's state-of-the-art online mapping system, NavigateLA. Engineering is committed to designing and building environmentally-sustainable projects that include extensive community input. Engineering projects and services support the City's goals of creating a prosperous, livable and safe city for all residents and businesses. |
Q: Tell us about your role with the Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project?
