It is impossible to imagine Los Angeles without its roads, but there is one structure that has become the true DNA of the City of Angels. The Sixth Street Viaduct, also known as the Sixth Street Bridge, is more than just a path over the Los Angeles River. It is an architectural phoenix that survived destruction to become California’s most modern landmark. More about the history of the bridge, which went from a backdrop in the movie “Grease” to a top location on Instagram and TikTok, will be told by la-future.
History of the Sixth Street Viaduct
This structure is also known as the Sixth Street Bridge. It connects Sixth Street in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles with Whittier Boulevard in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. The original structure was opened in 1932 and consisted of three independent constructions: reinforced concrete western and eastern elements, and a central steel arch segment over the river.
In 1986, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) conducted a survey of the bridge. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The original structure was demolished in 2016. It took nine months. This decision was justified by serious structural problems. We are talking about large cracks that arose due to high alkali content in the concrete composition. Likely, the cause of the cracks in the concrete and the decrease in the structure’s strength was the low quality of the concrete. At the time of the bridge’s construction, a local plant was responsible for the concrete supply. It is worth noting that this structure is the only one of the historic viaduct bridges over the Los Angeles River that suffered from the alkali-silica reaction.
In addition, concerns about the seismic instability of the structure were added, which outweighed the historic status of the building. Experts predicted, giving approximately a 70% probability, that the bridge would collapse due to a major earthquake within the next 50 years.
Final Days of the Legendary Bridge
Before the demolition, Eric Garcetti, the Mayor of Los Angeles from 2013 to 2022, recorded an R&B-style song “101SlowJam” accompanied by musicians from the city’s Roosevelt High School. The politician published the musical work on his own YouTube channel.
Thousands of people came for a final walk across the bridge. They left autographs on the concrete walls, took farewell photos, and posted them on social media under the hashtag #SixthStreetBridge.
The final days of the legendary bridge are filmed in this video.
Original Sixth Street Viaduct in Cinema
This bridge has appeared in hundreds of films, music videos, and games (for example, in GTA V under the name Murrieta Heights Bridge). Here are just a few masterpieces where the bridge played a key role.
- “Grease” (1978). The final car racing scene took place exactly in the concrete riverbed under the bridge.
- “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991). The iconic chase of the T-1000 in a truck after John Connor on a motorcycle.
- “The Mask” (1994). The moment when Jim Carrey’s character escapes from the police.
- “Gone in 60 Seconds” (2000). Spectacular jumps and high-speed maneuvers by Nicolas Cage.
- “Furious 7” (2015). This is one of the bridge’s last major roles before demolition.
Separately, it is worth noting that Madonna, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Linkin Park, and 30 Seconds to Mars filmed their music videos under these arches.
Project of the Century
The new Sixth Street Viaduct was officially opened on July 9, 2022. It was designed by a team led by HNTB, which won the International Design Competition. The architect of the project is Michael Maltzan, who called it a “Ribbon of Light.” Later, he noted in an interview that he dreams of proving one thing:
“Infrastructure can be extraordinarily ambitious in its form, but at the same time still remain infrastructure, left in a natural state.”
In shaping the history of the project, it is also worth highlighting Deborah Weintraub, the Chief Deputy City Engineer of the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering and the city’s chief architect. She led Los Angeles’ efforts to build the new bridge. It was meant to be not only beautiful and functional but also a standalone public space.
The project, like the original construction, was intended for the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, with specifically designated lanes for bicycles. This is the first high-quality building project (HNTB) to use the Envision infrastructure rating system for sustainable development and resource efficiency. This ensures a span service life of 100 years.
Architectural Features of the Bridge
The following architectural features of the new structure can be highlighted:
- it is a 3,500-foot bridge;
- the use of a series of 10 pairs of sculptural arches. Of these, the highest pairs are located next to the Los Angeles River and frame it where the original arches were located;
- the higher pair of sculptural arches US101, which looks like a gateway to the east;
- the inclined arches recall the iconic beauty of the original bridge;
- the monumental spiral bicycle ramp deserves separate attention;
- the new span has an additional width of 40 feet, totaling 100 feet in width;
The new Sixth Street Viaduct is the largest bridge project in Los Angeles history. Additionally, it is the winner of the 2023 Grand Conceptor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies.
Modern Life
The bridge, with its ten pairs of glowing arches, has become a real “Disneyland” for influencers. Everything is filmed here—from wedding portraits to professional commercials (Mazda, Nissan, Buick). Social media exploded with footage of people getting haircuts right in the middle of the roadway, having picnics on the arches, or performing dangerous skateboard stunts. For the first time in decades, the bridge has truly connected the wealthy Arts District with the historically Latino neighborhood of Boyle Heights, becoming a meeting place for different cultures.
However, popularity also brought a dark side. The wide expanse of the bridge became an ideal platform for illegal street takeovers. Just a few days after opening, the new asphalt was covered with black marks from burnt rubber. Drivers of Dodge Challengers and Chargers put on dangerous shows for hundreds of spectators, leading to mass accidents. Due to “questionable activity,” the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) had to close the bridge for four consecutive nights only three weeks after it opened. Daredevils began climbing to the very top of the arches for epic selfies, ignoring mortal danger.
Beneath the bridge is a 12-acre public park and an arts plaza. Landscaping work will be finished by the end of 2025. It can be reached by stairs and the monumental spiral bicycle ramp. Thus, residents and guests of Los Angeles have access to recreation areas with restrooms, cafes, the Los Angeles River, and public art.
The New Heart of Los Angeles
The Sixth Street Viaduct is a bridge between the past and the future, a prominent architectural landmark of Los Angeles. It connects the historic Boyle Heights district with the progressive Arts District, reminding us that even after destruction, something even grander can be created. If you are planning a trip to Los Angeles, this bridge should be on your list of outstanding historic buildings alongside the Hollywood sign.
You can enjoy the beauty of the modern Sixth Street Viaduct and feel the special atmosphere of this place by watching this video.
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