After shutting down in 2016 and going through six years of re-construction, the Sixth St. Bridge is now open. Finally, Angelenos can drive from Boyle Heights to the Arts District instantly, and vice-versa.
“We are thrilled to reopen the newly built Sixth Street Viaduct and usher in a new era for Los Angeles,” said Council-member Kevin de León in a recent news release. “Once again, this bridge will take its place as one of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks connecting the Arts District and Boyle Heights. This celebration will be a tribute to the years of dedicated work that went into creating one of the most inspiring public works projects in our City’s history.”
On July 9th, a grand opening and celebration full of festivities were held on the bridge. This past Sunday, the Sixth Street Bridge was opened to pedestrians and bikers from 11A.M. to 4P.M. It was officially opened to vehicles at 7:00P.M. that day. Beautifully enough, some of the first cars to cross were low-riders.
Much like the old bridge, the new viaduct stretches 3,500 feet. However, the revamp of the bridge offers a more pedestrian and bike-friendly structure in comparison. There are now sidewalks along both sides of the bridge, bike lanes on each side, and sets of walkways connecting to the ground underneath it.
Now that the bridge is officially complete, come 2023 there are plans to build a park underneath it. Earlier this year, L.A. City Council adopted the findings and plans for the Sixth Street Park, Arts, River, and Connectivity Project—or PARC which will be built underneath and adjacent to the Sixth Street Viaduct. The city is proposing to dedicate exactly 13 acres of recreational space. Learn more about these plans here.
Check out our gallery of some beautiful shots of the city’s newest addition below.