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Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project - Design Animation -













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Three design proposals unveiled for new Sixth Street Bridge; Presentations continue this week
By Antonio Mejias on September 17, 2012


Design by the firm HNTB retains elements of the original bridge, which is distinguished by its double arches.


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This story was originally published in La Opinión.

The announced project for the construction of a new bridge over the Los Angeles River on Sixth Street took a step forward last week with the presentation of the three winning designs.

Three architectural firms— HNTB, AECOM and Parsons Brinckherhof—presented their concepts in a public meeting Wednesday night at Puente Learning Center in Boyle Heights, attended by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman District 14 Jose Huizar.

The Sixth Street Bridge or viaduct is one of five that connect downtown to Boyle Heights. The iconic structure, which is used in multiple films and television footage and noted for its design of twin arches, is impaired because of a chemical reaction known by its acronym as ASR.

Last November, the City Council approved the reconstruction of the bridge.

“Once it was determined that a new bridge was needed, my next concern was to make sure that what replaced it was as iconic as the original,” Huizar said in a statement.

At the meeting, Huizar said that the three designs presented comply with the mandate to “not just cross from one point A to point B, but to reach a C,” referring to a recreation area that could support the renewed interest in the river by Los Angeles citizens.

The three designs were selected by a committee composed of engineers, architects, urban planners, community members and business owners.

Most of the $401 million cost for the new bridge comes from federal funds. The rest comes from state Proposition B and local measures R and C.

Bridge construction should begin in early 2015 to be completed in 2018.