Sixth Street Viaduct Will be a Beacon for Los Angeles
Next year's completion of the new Sixth Street Viaduct will mark the return of the iconic bridge after five years of construction. It will compliment the Los Angeles skyline with a "ribbon of light" that will serve as a beacon for all of Los Angeles. Ten pairs of arches will rise above the 101 Freeway, a handful of rail lines, the LA River and the downtown Los Angeles arts district.
The new Sixth Street Viaduct will allow motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to travel between East LA and downtown
There were a number of structural problems that necessitated the replacement of the old bridge including alkali silica reaction which was slowly rotting the concrete, and the outdated design's sub-standard resistance to seismic events. The designers were tasked with recognizing the need for a new and stronger design while understanding the historical significance of the previous structure. HNTB Architect, Michael Maltzan says of the project, “It was necessary to take it down from a technical and safety standpoint, but there was a lot of pushback by communities who had an investment, emotionally and culturally, with the bridge. [We needed to] create a new bridge that had as strong a character as the original bridge—one that captured the ambitions and spirit of the city.”
The construction manager/ general contracting team of Skanska USA Civil and Stacy and Witbeck (SSW) are behind the construction of the 3,060-ft-long, 100-ft-wide viaduct.
Read full article on ENR California