$588 million Sixth Street Viaduct reopens after 6 Years of closure.

$588 million Sixth Street Viaduct reopens after 6 Years of closure.

By Karen Ostlund   
                                                                           

The community celebration of the opening of the $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct took place Saturday July 9th when the viaduct opened to pedestrians, bikes, musical performances, food trucks and 100 Years of Cars.

                                                                                 

“After more than six years of being closed, we are thrilled to reopen the Sixth Street bridge which will take its place as one of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks connecting the Arts District and Boyle Heights", said Council member Kevin deLeón.
                                                                                   

LA Mayor Garcetti at Sixth Street bridge, before opening.

 “The 6th Street Viaduct isn’t just a connection between our communities – it’s a new landmark that represents beauty, that defines Los Angeles,” said LA Mayor Eric Garcetti. “I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with my fellow Angelenos who have been waiting for this day for six years and are ready to experience the benefits of this historic project.”
                                                                         

HELIX ramp structure, located near the center of the viaduct, was designed with efficiency and connectivity in mind.•
This structure is 790’ long, 12’ wide, and 45’ tall.•The ADA-compliant helical ramp have a connection to both the westbound and eastbound bicycle lanes and sidewalks at the deck level.
Using the ramp structure, pedestrians and cyclists will be able to connect from the ground level at Mission Road into the communities of Boyle Heights and the Arts District.•The helix will also help connect the viaduct to the future 12-acre PARC under the viaduct, which will be located at ground level and include recreation and open spaces, connections to the LA River.

                                                                                      

ARCHES,The design of the new bridge, known as “The Ribbon of Light,” includes 10 pairs of arches, with a 9-degree artistic outward cant.•There are three different arch heights on the new viaduct, ranging between 30 to 60 feet in height and about 300 feet in length.•Each arch required 260 cubic yards of concrete equivalent to 65+ truckloads and took 12-14 hours to pour the concrete.•The team injected liquid nitrogen into the concrete to cool the mix down to ambient temperature and reduce the potential for concreate cracking.•The arches will be lit with color changing LED lights which will light up from the bottom and upwards for different events.

Starting in 2023, the Bureau of Engineering will construct a new 12-acre park underneath the structure that will provide access to the Los Angeles River, public art and recreational programming.
The $40 million park, of which $8.5 million comes from state Prop 68 dollars, will also be home to the Len Hill Arts Plaza, made possible via a donation by the Leonard Hill Foundation.
“This viaduct has been a labor of love and determination for so many of us in the City, our partners and particularly the Bureau of Engineering,” said Gary Lee Moore, City Engineer. “We worked closely with the community to create a multi-modal space that not only creates a new bridge for vehicles, but also brings exciting new walking and biking options with breathtaking views. Our team is very proud to deliver this iconic landmark to Los Angeles for everyone’s enjoyment for generations to come.