Politics & Government

Photos: Gold Line Bridge Completion Ceremony

Rep. Judy Chu (D-El Monte) lent a hand in marking the bridge's completion.

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority marked the completion of the landmark Gold Line Bridge on Saturday by giving more than 350 people a chance to walk across it during a ceremony to mark its completion.

As the largest public art and transit infrastructure project in California, the  584-linear foot bridge will serve as the Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley.

It spans the eastbound lanes of the I-210 freeway northeast of Los Angeles and is the most visible element of the 11.5-mile Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project the Construction Authority is building between Pasadena and Azusa.

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"The bridge is absolutely beautiful, " commented U.S. Representative Grace Napolitano during Saturday's completion ceremony. "I really have to thank the Construction Authority because they decided to make this a significant work of art.  I believe this will be an icon of the San Gabriel Valley."

Designed by award-winning artist Andrew Leicester, the Gold Line Bridge is anchored by two, 25-foot ‘baskets’ paying tribute to the indigenous peoples of the San Gabriel Valley and the oversize iconic roadside traditions of nearby Route 66. The distinctive bridge also has a "serpentine"underbelly featuring casted grooves and hatch marks that simulate the patterns found on the Western Diamondback snake, metaphorically referencing the spine of the transit system.

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“The Construction Authority is proud to have created a functional piece of art that will inspire travelers and commuters for generations to come,” said Doug Tessitor, Construction Authority board chair and Glendora council member.

As the design concept adviser, Leicester worked alongside Los Angeles-based design consultant, AECOM, and the bridge’s builder, Skanska USA, to ensure the final design and construction were true to the overall vision.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-El Monte) noted the bridge also was a huge economic boon to the area, particularly in the flagging construction industy, which took a huge hit due to the recession. The $18.6 million bridge was constructed from funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

"Ninety-two percent of the materials and products used on the bridge were from local sources," Chu said during her remarks at the ceremony. "That meant jobs for the area, and we are very pleased that the leaders of this project saw that this whole region could be involved and benefit from its construction."

With information from a Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority.


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