Mulholland Drive Bridge

Picture the Mulholland Drive Bridge. It’s a giant of the 20th century. For over 50 years it silently watched thousands of commuters rush past. Few truly appreciated its presence. This impressive arch bridge wasn’t always so vital. In 1960 when it opened it was deemed “a bridge to nowhere”. Los Angeles was different then. There was no 405 Freeway. Getting across town was much harder. The bridge cost $1.8 million to build. Peter Kiewit Sons’ Co. completed construction. They are also the ones tearing it down. The company’s successor Kiewit Corp. oversees its current makeover. The bridge is being widened. Seismic upgrades are being added too. This isn’t just a simple repair job. It’s part of a massive project. The Sepulveda Pass Improvement Project cost $1.34 billion. The Mulholland Drive Bridge’s reconstruction is a small but important part of it. Federal and state funding made this possible. Congressman Berman secured $130 million in federal dollars. Governor Schwarzenegger added $90 million from the state. More funds flowed in later from Proposition 1B and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The demolition was quite planned. It was not a dramatic explosion. Workers chipped away at the bridge in pumpkin-sized pieces. A layer of dirt protected the 405 Freeway below. The concrete is being recycled. Next summer the north side will be demolished and rebuilt. After the renovations are complete in 2013. The Mulholland Drive Bridge will have new concrete. It will have wider lanes shoulders medians and sidewalks. Take a moment to appreciate this bridge. It is a link to Los Angeles’ past. It is a testament to its growth. Soon it will be ready for the 21st century.