The 210 Gold Line bridge, "the most distinctive bridge in Southern California," is nearing completion. It will be "the largest, single public art transit infrastructure project in California."
Anchored by two 25-foot tall concrete baskets that pay tribute to the indigenous peoples of the San Gabriel Valley and the oversize iconic roadside traditions of nearby Route 66, the Gold Line Bridge over the I-210 freeway northeast of Los Angeles, in Arcadia, will be the new Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley when it is completed next month.
- The on-time and on-budget Gold Line Bridge is the first element of the 11.5-mile Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project from Pasadena to Azusa to be completed by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority.
- More than 92% of the materials used to make the bridge were domestic, nearly all from local and regional sources.
- The LAEDC estimates that the Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa will generate nearly 7,000 new jobs (2,600 in construction) and $1 billion in economic output for the region over its construction period (construction completion is anticipated in late 2015).
- A national artist competition led to the selection of renowned public artist Andrew Leicester to create the bridge's landmark design. The selection was made by a committee of community stakeholders from throughout the Foothill Extension's corridor, following receipt of 15 submissions by highly qualified public artists.
- Mr. Leicester's vision for the bridge drove the design and engineering process – the first time such a process has been used on Caltrans infrastructure project.
- In addition to the two large concrete baskets, the bridge's featured serpentine design on the main underbelly of the bridge simulates the patterns found on the Western Diamondback snake, metaphorically referencing the spine of the transit system.
Source: Gold Line press release
- Brad Haugaard
I've often wondered, and often argued why so much public money must be spent making utilaterian structures like bridges pieces of "art" - can not that hard earned public money be better spent elsewhere? And what of the up-keep of said "pieces of art"? This state is THE MOST HEAVILY TAXED STATE IN THE NATION can not our hard earned $$ be better spent?
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I think it's great to be sure that there is some artistic integrity to our public structures.
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