Construction on the Sixth Street Viaduct replacement is moving (slowly) along, and Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar is taking steps to prepare for its arrival.
Huizar submitted a motion Friday (spotted by Urbanize LA) calling on city staffers to research the possibility of burying overhead power wiring to “reduce visual blight” at the 12-acre public park planned beneath the bridge.
Huizar also notes in the motion that the areas on either side of the bridge have historically been used for industrial activities and have little pedestrian infrastructure in place. The councilmember says “significant infrastructure upgrades,” including the installation of new sidewalks and street lights will make the park welcoming for visitors.
The bridge and park will have big shoes to fill, replacing the historic Sixth Street Viaduct, one of the city’s most beloved landmarks. Constructed in the 1930s, the viaduct appeared in countless films and television shows, but had to close in 2015 after officials found it to be seismically unsafe.
While construction on the new bridge got underway last year, the accompanying park is still a work in progress.
The park will feature athletic fields, playground and fitness equipment, a public art and performance area, walking and bike paths, a dog park, and a community building.
The $23-million project is still in the environmental review phase, but is expected to be complete by the time the bridge opens to the public in 2020.
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