Los Angeles, CA: Mayor Garcetti and fellow Angelenos celebrated the opening of the Sixth Street Viaduct Bridge this past weekend with festivities on Saturday, July 9, and ending with the bridge open to traffic on Sunday evening. The bridge is the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles, according to a news release by the city of Los Angeles Mayor’s office.

“The Sixth Street Viaduct isn’t just a connection between our communities – it’s a new landmark that represents the tenacity, beauty, and promise that defines Los Angeles,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with my fellow Angelenos who have been waiting for this day for six years and are ready to experience the benefits of this historic project.”

The bridge “will reconnect Boyle Heights to Downtown Los Angeles and offer recreational activities from bike paths to soccer fields that will bring our communities closer together,” said Congressman Jimmy Gomez.

According to the release, the $588 million dollar bridge broke ground in 2016. It is 3,500 feet long, 100 feet wide, and features 10 pairs of arches varying from 30 to 60 feet in height. The bridge is one of the most seismically safe pieces of infrastructure in the city, and is built to move up to 30 inches in all directions in the event of a major earthquake. Construction on the bridge created nearly 2,000 jobs over the life of the project.

On Saturday, July 9, Council District 14 hosted a community celebration on the viaduct, and on Sunday, July 10, the viaduct opened to pedestrians and bicycles from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the mayor’s office. At 7:00 p.m., the viaduct fully opened to all traffic.

Key News Network video shows vehicles traveling on the bridge at 11:00 p.m on Sunday along with many people walking on the bridge path. A Los Angeles Police Department airship was overhead asking people not to park on the bridge.

Video: Zak Holman, Photojournalist / KNN

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