Two years after our last update, falsework continues to make its way slowly across the Los Angeles River, as the new Sixth Street Viaduct takes shape.
The 3,500-foot span between Downtown Los Angeles and Boyle Heights replaces the original 1932 viaduct, which was demolished in 2016 due to an alkali-silica reaction that compromised its concrete structure and created a seismic vulnerability.
The new bridge, designed by architect Michael Maltzan as part of an HNTB Corp. design-build team, will be highlighted by 10 concrete arches - a reference the iconic metal structures from the original bridge. Pedestrian paths will flank both sides of the roadway across the river, with stairways and access ramps include for cyclists and pedestrians.
In addition to crossing the Los Angeles River, the viaduct project will be accompanied by 12 acres of new park space in Boyle Heights and the Arts District. The green space would be built as a separate project, funded through state and local sources.
The Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering currently estimates that viaduct will open in 2022 - a three-year delay from the 2019 completion date expected at the time of its groundbreaking.
- Sixth Street Viaduct (Urbanize LA)
