Los Angeles, a city synonymous with sprawling freeways and iconic landmarks, has unveiled its newest architectural marvel: the 6th Street Bridge. This ambitious $588-million project, officially named the “Sixth Street Viaduct,” transcends mere infrastructure; it’s designed to be a vibrant public space and a lasting monument for the city. Spanning a diverse landscape of downtown lofts, industrial warehouses, and bustling rail lines, this bridge isn’t just a crossing—it’s a destination.
Replacing a beloved but deteriorating Depression-era predecessor demolished in 2016, the new 6th Street Bridge is more than just a functional artery connecting downtown Los Angeles to the historic Eastside, specifically Whittier Boulevard. It’s a symbol of Los Angeles’s ambition and a testament to modern engineering and design. With its distinctive 10 pairs of leaning arches, the 6th Street Bridge stands as the largest and most expensive bridge ever constructed in Los Angeles, signaling a new era for the city’s infrastructure and public spaces.
Mayor Eric Garcetti aptly described the bridge as “our generation’s love letter to the city” during its opening ceremony. His words resonate with the grand scale and thoughtful design of the viaduct, intended to serve as a gathering place and a source of civic pride. While Los Angeles boasts other notable bridges, often featured in Hollywood productions for their subtle Art Deco charm, the 6th Street Bridge aims for iconic status on par with the Golden Gate Bridge or the Brooklyn Bridge, becoming a defining image of Los Angeles for residents and visitors alike. The former 6th Street Viaduct, despite its cinematic cameos in classics like “Grease,” “Terminator 2,” and “Repo Man,” never quite achieved this level of symbolic representation for Los Angeles. The new bridge, however, is poised to change that narrative.
To celebrate the completion of this landmark project, the city hosted a three-day festival, marking the bridge’s significance in connecting Boyle Heights and the burgeoning Arts District. Looking ahead, Mayor Garcetti envisions the 6th Street Bridge playing a central role on the global stage, stating, “This will be in many ways what everybody sees in 2028 when they come to the Olympics.” He even suggested its inclusion in the Olympic torch relay, highlighting the bridge’s potential as a focal point for major city-wide events.
The construction of the 6th Street Bridge spanned six years, facing delays due to the global pandemic and unexpected soil conditions. However, unlike conventional bridges primarily designed for vehicular traffic, this structure is engineered to accommodate large pedestrian gatherings. Its load-bearing capacity is tailored for tens of thousands of people, making it ideal for public celebrations and events. Adding to its visual appeal, thousands of energy-efficient LED lights are integrated into the arches and beams, allowing the bridge to be illuminated in a spectrum of colors, from Dodger Blue to vibrant rainbows, adapting to any occasion. This dynamic lighting system has led city officials to affectionately nickname the new 6th Street Bridge the “Ribbon of Light.”
Michael Jones, principal engineer at HNTB Corp. and the bridge’s chief project manager, emphasized the unique design considerations. “It’s very rare that you configure a bridge so that it can be shut down and carry pedestrians,” Jones explained. “Most bridges aren’t designed for celebrations or special occasions. But the city hopes to use it for just that. For example, closing it down when the Rams win the Super Bowl again.” This inherent flexibility underscores the bridge’s purpose as a public space, not just a thoroughfare.
Architect Michael Maltzan, the visionary behind the 6th Street Bridge design, aimed to create “something that could knit the city together in a more consequential way.” His design was selected through an international competition organized by the Bureau of Engineering, reflecting the city’s commitment to architectural excellence and innovative urban planning. The 3,500-foot-long bridge is a testament to Maltzan’s vision, offering a unique perspective of the city and its diverse character.
However, the bridge’s design has also drawn some criticism. Bicycle advocates, like Michael Schneider of Streets For All, have voiced concerns about the bike lanes, arguing they lack sufficient protection compared to the pedestrian walkway. Schneider noted the bike lanes are separated by “flimsy plastic bollards,” raising safety concerns for cyclists sharing the bridge with vehicular traffic. This highlights ongoing debates in Los Angeles about prioritizing different modes of transportation in urban infrastructure projects.
Beyond design critiques, the 6th Street Bridge also sparks discussions about gentrification. Located near Boyle Heights, a historically Latino neighborhood, some residents fear the bridge will accelerate gentrification, potentially displacing working-class communities as increased accessibility attracts development and raises property values. These concerns reflect broader anxieties in Los Angeles about equitable urban development and preserving the character of long-standing neighborhoods.
Despite these concerns, the 6th Street Bridge offers undeniable aesthetic and experiential value. Walking across the bridge provides a panoramic vista of Los Angeles, capturing the city’s multifaceted identity. From the towering skyscrapers of downtown to the industrial landscapes, the juxtaposition of wealth and grit, art and urban decay, palm trees and distant mountains—the bridge encapsulates the essence of Los Angeles in a single view.
City Councilman Kevin de León emphasized this symbolic aspect, stating, “The Hollywood sign has been the iconic symbol for Los Angeles along with Griffith Observatory, but there’s a new star in town. It’s the 6th Street bridge and it symbolizes much more than the Hollywood elite. It symbolizes the working people of Los Angeles that are the backbone of this economy.” De León’s perspective highlights the bridge’s potential to represent a broader spectrum of Los Angeles residents, moving beyond the glitz of Hollywood to acknowledge the city’s working-class communities.
The original 6th Street Viaduct, built in 1932, suffered from “concrete cancer,” a structural deterioration requiring its replacement. For preservationists, the demolition of the Art Moderne-style viaduct was a significant loss. Designed by city engineer Merrill Butler, the old 6th Street Viaduct was considered the “grandest of the monumental river bridges” by the Los Angeles Conservancy, representing a significant piece of the city’s architectural heritage.
William Deverell, director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, acknowledged the often-overlooked role of bridges in urban life. “The beauty and the function of our bridges are often forgotten,” Deverell noted. However, he expressed optimism for the new 6th Street Bridge, hoping it will transcend mere functionality and become a truly iconic landmark. “You can’t really plan iconic status, it just has to happen,” Deverell said. “But if you can energize a public space, gathering on a bridge — spanning the L.A. River — that can have all manner of cultural celebrations and gatherings, I think that could be absolutely iconic and extremely important.”
The construction of the 6th Street Bridge was a massive undertaking, involving 89 subcontractors, 8,250 tons of steel, and 15,000 feet of steel cable. Supply chain disruptions and labor shortages during the pandemic contributed to delays and cost overruns, pushing the final budget over $100 million beyond the initial estimate. Even at its opening, some finishing touches, like stair railings, were still pending due to shipping delays.
Despite these challenges, Rafael German, a Boyle Heights resident who witnessed the bridge’s construction, expressed his admiration. “It’s beautiful,” German said, appreciating the panoramic view of downtown Los Angeles from the bridge. Growing up in the area, he has a personal connection to the bridge, having used the old viaduct for his high school basketball training. He sees the new 6th Street Bridge as a positive addition to his community, even while acknowledging concerns about gentrification.
Further enhancing the area, a $40 million park is under development beneath the 6th Street Bridge, slated to open by 2024. Mayor Garcetti envisions this park as Los Angeles’s “next Central Park,” featuring an amphitheater, soccer fields, and walking paths, promising to create a significant new green space in the heart of the city.
However, like Rafael German, many local residents remain wary of gentrification. The influx of art galleries, breweries, and upscale developments in Boyle Heights is fueling concerns about rising rents and displacement. German himself has experienced a significant rent increase, reflecting the growing affordability challenges in the area. He and others worry that the 6th Street Bridge, while a stunning addition to Los Angeles, may inadvertently accelerate these gentrification pressures, bringing wealthier residents closer and potentially altering the character of Boyle Heights. The 6th Street Bridge, therefore, stands as a symbol of progress and innovation, but also as a focal point for ongoing discussions about equitable urban development and the future of Los Angeles’s diverse communities.
