Tours Celebrate Los Angeles' Bridges
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Apr. 14, 2008
Los Angeles' Sixth Street Viaduct, in the background, is deteriorating from a rare chemical reaction.
Credit: Kevin Break
Last week was "bridge appreciation week" in Los Angeles. Tours offered residents another look at the city's famous spans, some of which are endangered.
In January the city designated 11 bridges as landmarks; although the designation means that the city's cultural heritage commission will review any widening or demolition plans for the 27 landmarked bridges, it cannot prevent their destruction.
A panel on Apr. 10 discussed the status of 14 of Los Angeles' bridges that are scheduled to be replaced, widened, or retrofitted in the next six years. Organized by the Getty Conservation Institute, the Los Angeles Conservancy, and the Friends of the Los Angeles River, the tours and panel discussion were part of "Spanning History."
Built in the 1930s, the reinforced concrete structures span many architectural styles, from art deco to classical revival.
Comments
Submitted by Mike S at: April 26, 2008
I don't think that the structure itself is historic - only the design. To demolish and rebuild as exactly the same is just as good if more cost effective