The Sixth Street Viaduct will be closed indefinitely “due to illegal activity and public safety concerns,” the Los Angeles Police Department announced Tuesday evening.
Tuesday was the fourth time in five nights that police decided to close the $588 million bridge which opened to the public on July 10 and connects Boyle Heights and the downtown Arts District. A specific reason for the closure was not announced.
A series of four videos posted to Instagram on Tuesday night showed a large group of bicyclists riding in traffic lanes before police, including a helicopter circling overhead, cleared and closed the bridge, the Los Angeles Times reported.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore told the Police Commission earlier Tuesday that police hoped to install speed bumps in hopes of deterring the “dangerous speed displays and exhibitions” on the bridge.
A center median and fencing to discourage people from scaling the archways could also be installed soon on a temporary basis, according to Moore.
Police have made more than 57 citations and impounded six vehicles over the last four days, according to Moore.
“We’re not going to arrest our way out of this,” Moore said. “Despite the hundreds of impounds and citations and arrests, we still see the proliferation of this. So I’m asking for the public’s help and support and assistance.”