One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Nostalgic for the 6th Street Bridge? You can own a piece of it
The iconic 6th Street Bridge that connects downtown Los Angeles with its eastern disticts is reflected in the Los Angeles River after its closure to traffic on January 27, 2016.
(
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
)
Missing L.A.’s iconic, historic 6th Street Bridge? Never fear – soon you may be able to keep a piece of it for yourself.
At “Rock Day L.A.,” an Aug. 13 event hosted by Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar and the L.A. Bureau of Engineering, officials will be handing out around 1,000 pieces of the demolished bridge for anyone to take home – on a first-come, first-served basis.
The smallest pieces will be about the size of a paperweight; the larger ones will be around the size of a softball, and each will come with a certificate of authenticity from the city.
“It’s just another way we can honor the history of the 6th Street Bridge, which was really a beloved icon for the city of Los Angeles,” said Rick Coca, a spokesperson for Councilmember Huizar.
Demolition crews have been steadily dismantling the bridge since February, after an alkali silica reaction in the concrete, known as “concrete cancer,” forced the city to move forward with a plan to replace it.
“Pretty shortly around the time of demolition people started to ask us, 'was there any way to get a piece of the bridge?'” Coca told KPCC.
The “Rock Day L.A.” event is partly a response to that demand – and a way for Angelenos to get a taste of what’s in store for the new bridge. The event will feature model displays of the public space being planned underneath the new bridge. It will also include food trucks, music, a photo booth and a science booth that will show samples of the alkali silica reaction on the concrete. (The pieces of bridge being handed out to visitors will be examined by the Bureau of Engineering to make sure they’re safe from “concrete cancer,” Coca said.)
Sponsored message
Those who won’t be able to make the Aug. 13 event but still want a piece of history might still have a chance. “If there’s enough demand, there’s the possibility that we could do something similar again at a later date,” Coca said.
The rock giveaway won’t be the only way L.A. will be preserving traces of the old bridge, however.
A park being planned for the space beneath the new viaduct will feature around 20 light posts from the bridge, as well as one of its arches. It's part of the city’s $40 million plan to create more public space in the area under the new bridge
More information about “Rock Day L.A.” can be found on its Facebook event page.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
