The city’s Bureau of Engineering has selected global engineering firm Tetra Tech to fortify and relight the Sixth Street Viaduct following repeated copper wire thefts that left sections of the bridge dark, officials announced Wednesday.
Tetra Tech began design work in January under the bureau’s direction, developing plans to restore wiring to lighting along the roadway, barriers, ramps, stairways and arches.
The project also includes hardening pull boxes, service cabinets and conduits to deter future theft, installing security cameras and advancing construction on the viaduct’s lighting system ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games, according to the office of City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, whose 14th District includes the bridge.
“When our streets are well-lit, our neighborhoods feel safer and more connected,” Jurado said in a statement. “The Sixth Street Bridge plays a vital role in connecting Angelenos between the Eastside and the heart of the city.”
“Partnering with Tetra Tech moves us one step closer to restoring one of the city’s most iconic landmarks as a safe, welcoming public space our communities deserve,” Jurado added.
The Bureau of Engineering conducted a comprehensive procurement process to identify experts to address the bridge’s lighting issues, according to Jurado’s office.
Separately, the city has launched a social media campaign allowing residents to help select colors for the proposed Sixth Street Park, Arts, River and Connectivity — or PARC — project beneath the bridge. The nearly completed project will include a 12-acre green space featuring sports fields, fitness equipment, event areas and a performance stage, with a grand opening expected later this year.
Last year, the City Council approved an ordinance to offer rewards for information involving theft of city plaques, tombstones, statues, light standards, and copper wire, and theft of metals linked to the Sixth Street Bridge.
In 2024, following a series of copper wire thefts on the Sixth Street Bridge, elected officials and the Los Angeles Police Department formed the Heavy Metal Task Force to combat metal theft in downtown Los Angeles and later expanded efforts into parts of the San Fernando Valley.