By: Deena Nissley
Information provided by Paul Krekorian (Councilmember, Second District)
“Today, at long last, I am pleased to announce the opening of the Colfax Avenue Bridge. As of Thursday morning, cars will be free to drive over the bridge and Colfax Avenue will be open again, as the two-year project to widen and modernize the overpass comes to a completion.
I know how frustrating this process has been for businesses, drivers and residents; as one who drives near the bridge each day, it was frustrating for me as well. For that, please accept my gratitude for your patience and know that this project will help Studio City for years to come.
As you may know, this retrofitting project is part of a long-term program to renovate bridges throughout Los Angeles. In 2001, the city set aside $307 million for a bridge improvement program to rehabilitate and r eplace up to 83 city-owned bridges. Currently, there are 430 vehicular bridges in the city’s bridge inventory and the 83 prioritized bridges have been identified as being structurally deficient, functionally obsolete and/or seismically vulnerable.
One of those safety priorities was the Colfax bridge. The project has outfitted the bridge with a wider concrete arched base to meet the latest CalTrans seismic requirements. The new base is about 28 feet wider than the old bridge and will allow sufficient room beneath its surface for a bike path on both sides of the concrete-lined river channel. Additionally, the old pedestrian connection between the street level and the pedestrian bridge will be replaced with a stairway and ramp at the southeast corner of the new bridge.
In addition to solving serious safety concerns, the new bridge allows for new amenities that will add considerably to our quality of life and encourage non-motorized mobility. New bike paths, walkin g paths, ADA-accessible ramps and new landscaping will be finished within the next couple of months.
These are exciting developments for Studio City and they could not have been done without the help of many in the community, including the Studio City Neighborhood Council, the Studio City Residents Association, the Studio City Beautification Association and all the local businesses, residents and others involved. I want to thank them all – and you – for dealing with the great inconvenience of this closure, which has led to the great improvements produced by this project. I hope everyone enjoys the new and improved Colfax Bridge.”
