The Sixth Street Viaduct will close to traffic early Wednesday morning so city Bureau of Engineering crews can prepare the bridge for demolition, making Tuesday night the last chance the public can access the bridge.
Major demolition work is set to begin next week, necessitating a 40-hour closure of the Hollywood (101) Freeway on Feb. 5.
One arch from the old bridge will be preserved during demolition and used in a community space that will be built underneath the bridge, said Rick Coca, an aide to Councilman Jose Huizar.
Huizar, whose district includes the bridge, will take a “final walk” along the bridge along with the designer of its replacement, Michael Maltzan. He will join Mayor Eric Garcetti and other officials later in the day to discuss details about closures and detours related to the demolition.
Demolition work is expected to last about nine months and be followed by a $449 million project to build a replacement bridge. The new bridge is anticipated to be completed by 2019 at the earliest.
Maltzan’s design of the new bridge includes references to the current bridge, including 10 pairs of arches.
The bridge, which joins Boyle Heights with downtown Los Angeles, is being replaced due to deterioration caused by a chemical reaction in the concrete.
About 100 bridge lovers turned out about 8 p.m. and starting taking pictures, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Mike Lopez said.
A helicopter was sent to watch what happened, and officers on foot also turned out to maintain control, Lopez said.
There was no protest, but the bystanders appeared to be gathering in a hurry and additional police were called, Lopez said.
No arrests were made, Lopez said.
–City News Service