“Built in 1954, Bradley Avenue Bridge crosses Pacoima Wash. It stands 0.4 miles north of Freeway 118. This bridge has silently witnessed decades of Los Angeles history.
Let’s delve into some interesting facts about the Bradley Avenue Bridge. The bridge is maintained by the City or Municipal Highway Agency. It is also owned by them. In 2018, the average daily traffic was 2,860 vehicles. This included 1% truck traffic. By 2042, projections estimate 6,349 vehicles daily.
The last inspection was in September 2020. Inspections occur every 48 months. The bridge was rated in good condition. The structural evaluation scored a 7. This means it’s better than the present minimum criteria.
The deck geometry received a 4. It meets minimum tolerable limits. The channel protection scored an 8. Banks are protected or well-vegetated. The waterway adequacy earned a 9. The bridge deck is above flood water elevations. The chance of overtopping is remote.
No posting is required for the Bradley Avenue Bridge. It can handle legal loads. The bridge foundations are stable for assessed scour conditions. Bridge railings meet currently acceptable standards.
Transitions, approach guardrail, and approach guardrail ends? They do not meet current standards. The Bradley Avenue Bridge is not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. It is a toll-free road.
The functional class of the inventory route is urban collector. There are two lanes on the structure. There are no lanes under the structure. The design load is MS 18 or HS 20. The approach roadway width is 14.70 meters. There is no median. The skew is 7.
The structure is not flared. There is no navigation control. The bridge provides a highway and pedestrian service. It crosses a waterway. The bridge is made of concrete. The design and construction are slab type.
The main unit has one span. There are no approach spans. The length of the maximum span is 21.00 meters. The structure length is 23.20 meters. The left and right curb/sidewalk width is 1.40 meters each. The bridge roadway width curb-to-curb is 9.70 meters. The deck width out-to-out is 13.60 meters.
The operating rating is 99.80 metric tons. The inventory rating is 76.10 metric tons. The inventory route is not a STRAHNET route. No parallel structure exists. Traffic flows in two directions. The inventory route is not on the NHS. It is not applicable to federal lands highways.
The deck structure is concrete cast-in-place. The wearing surface is bituminous. There is no membrane or deck protection. The inventory route is not part of the national network for trucks.
The Bradley Avenue Bridge, while modest in appearance, plays a vital role. It safely carries people over the Pacoima Wash. Its good condition and stable structure ensure continued service for years. The recent reconstruction in 2009 added to its lifespan. Next time you cross this bridge, remember its history. Think about the numbers and ratings that keep it safe.”