Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The New Sixth Street Bridge Will Cost $36 Million More And Be Delayed Until 2020
The new bridge that will replace the now-demolished Sixth Street Viaduct will take eight months longer than originally planned and cost an additional $36 million.
According to a Budget and Finance Committee report dug up by Los Angeles Downtown News, the replacement bridge will see its budget increase to $482.2 million and likely won't see completion until late 2020.
Mary Nemick, director of communications for the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering told LAist that the delay and increased costs come as a result of "incorporated railroad restrictions, temperature control measures for the concrete curing, and modifications to the construction sequence based on input from the erection engineer." In other words, some fine technical details related to construction and also accounting for the fact that the project spans 18 railroad tracks, Curbed points out.
Despite these new changes to the project, Nemick says the proposed design will remain the same, including the 12 acres of park space underneath the span. In fact, the city will begin soliciting ideas for the park from community members in the coming months. Public meetings will start in February, with the dates announced next month.
"The community involvement process for the space will be extensive," said Nemick. "We want everyone's feedback."
The original Sixth Street Viaduct, opened in 1932, has been an L.A. icon for decades. Unfortunately, it was torn down earlier this year after it was determined that its concrete was irreversibly decaying.
[h/t: Curbed]
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?