Los Angeles Area Roads and Bridges

[Plutonic Panda]

I thought I started a general catch all thread for smaller Los Angeles area road projects, but I can't find it. Anyways, I wanted to report that the Hyperion Ave Bridge is finally starting construction with some staging materials on site.

[Plutonic Panda]

The Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project has shifted all pedestrian activity to a new temporary bridge while the main one is completely rebuilt:

https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2026/06/05/temporary-pedestrian-bridge-offers-visitors-a-new-way-to-access-santa-monica-pier-businesses-and-attractions

[Max Rockatansky]

The city picked an awful year for this replacement project if they were hoping to cash in on pseudo US 66 fandom seeing the "claimed endpoint" on the pier.  Maybe that will encourage people to go see the real terminus points on Lincoln Boulevard or even Fletcher Drive further back in Los Angeles. 

[Plutonic Panda]

PS here's a link for each project:

Hyperion Ave Bridge: https://engineering.lacity.gov/Projects/glendale-hyperion-bridge-improvement-project

Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement: https://pacpark.com/santa-monica-pier-bridge-replacement-project/

[Plutonic Panda]

They were supposed to do a road diet on Forest lawn Drive thankfully that has been shelved by Maher Karen Bas allegedly due to the cemetery voicing concerns. I hope that never happens. I don't mind saying it on here. I will illegally pass people on that road cause I know that it's gonna be a bitch. People are gonna be driving slow on it. That is just fucking stupid to remove a lane on that road there's no need for that. There's plenty of room to add cycling facilities that are protected and maintain two lanes of traffic each way.

[Plutonic Panda]

They also had a pretty extensive project plan for the Overland Ave, National BLVD, and I-10 interchange. That was before the pandemic and I'm not sure what the status of that is. I can't find anything more on it and I'm not sure if they abandon that project or what. It did look like it was needed the correct some geometrical deficiencies.

[Plutonic Panda]

And then call me crazy, but I thought they were supposed to widen Lincoln Boulevard to create a continuous three lane roadway over Ballona Creek. Pepsi on that or heard about that either that was proposed a quick minute ago as well.

[Rothman]

Why the multiple posts?

[Plutonic Panda]

Why the multiple posts?

I'm not sure if that's against form rules or not but I just posted different replies so I can quote them to respond to new project information to myself. I guess if anybody.

[Plutonic Panda]

Thankfully, Malibu has decided not to build a roundabout on PCH:

https://malibutimes.com/malibu-council-pulls-the-plug-on-pch-roundabout-project?fbclid=IwdGRleATpsuNwZG9mBWZkaWQWUMW4Mr6Rp5zsejugcZAnaMBuIzITXWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4LV9z5bq46sPxm_S2bRaFM-EJiTrsGses0bzC4yTYu9EbAVw-Jt20skzdOSQ_aem_irgY8mHXum3s4Da90owQBw

I don't really have a distain for roundabouts, but I don't like them. I would rather have a signalized intersection.

[JustDrive]

Where specifically on PCH would the roundabouts have been constructed? Encinal Canyon? Decker Canyon?

[kphoger]

Why the multiple posts?

I'm not sure if that's against form rules or not ...

FYI, here is the pertinent forum guideline:

What's not allowed:

• Avoid posting multiple times in a row. Posts may be edited by the original author at any time. Multiple posts may be merged into one by the moderators at their discretion.

[Max Rockatansky]

The more traffic signals that can be replaced by alternative configurations like roundabouts, the better.

[M3100]

Here are two local projects that I am following:

A. Westbound SR-91 Exit 10, Alameda/Santa Fe. The guardrails are being rebuilt, and the offramp is being reconfigured. The offramp starts with an overpass over parallel Artesia Blvd. Some pics:

1. The offramp originally had two lanes; they did not remove one of the arrows from the exit sign when they removed one of the lanes 

2. The lefthand exit lane is open while work continues


3. The ramp that had swung left to join Artesia Blvd. is closed, with construction equipment stationed there.


B. The ever-present repaving, due to landslides, on Palos Verdes Drive South near Portuguese Bend:

[Plutonic Panda]

Is the road in Palos Verdes back open? I thought it was closed indefinitely. I know they moved that church that had the redwoods(or Sequoia's?).

[M3100]

Is the road in Palos Verdes back open? I thought it was closed indefinitely. I know they moved that church that had the redwoods(or Sequoia's?).

The road is open, though there are signs stating that it is closed to motorcycles and bicycles. The Wayfarers Chapel was dismantled and the major building construction pieces were placed in storage. They are seeking a new location further west where they can rebuild.

[Plutonic Panda]

Now they're looking at making Sunset Boulevard one lane each way through Echo Park and reducing 72% of the street parking:

https://www.theeastsiderla.com/neighborhoods/echo_park/sunset-boulevard-road-diet-will-make-more-room-for-buses-and-bikes-and-less-for/article_f9684971-1d80-4d0d-b497-2f0801403bb6.html?fbclid=IwdGRleAUGI1lwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNtXT00icqn4ZEC04dxFPZZPkmInX2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7QZW5rRblmRP7iiONDvGNW1tUTxyxzjRfJsWuMGuBX2sWPLivnEqEs8CsC6g_aem_1LYeOIzWIguI3dPTZtHICw


This also comes as they're looking at reducing the rest of Hollywood Boulevard to making it one lane each way. Same thing with Forest lawn Drive. And they want to close down Wilshire Boulevard to cars through the park. And there's dozens of other projects for the same kind of crap.

[Plutonic Panda]

Is the road in Palos Verdes back open? I thought it was closed indefinitely. I know they moved that church that had the redwoods(or Sequoia's?).

The road is open, though there are signs stating that it is closed to motorcycles and bicycles. The Wayfarers Chapel was dismantled and the major building construction pieces were placed in storage. They are seeking a new location further west where they can rebuild.

Just drove it and yeah, the road is in rough shape as it's always been. I wonder is there a long-term plan for this road or is there even a study? It would seem at some point they would need to build a bridge with some really deep pile drives for deep foundations. Seems like a long-term fix is gonna be pretty expensive. Or is it just going to be continuously fixed as the land keeps sliding into the ocean?

[M3100]

Just drove it and yeah, the road is in rough shape as it's always been. I wonder is there a long-term plan for this road or is there even a study? It would seem at some point they would need to build a bridge with some really deep pile drives for deep foundations. Seems like a long-term fix is gonna be pretty expensive. Or is it just going to be continuously fixed as the land keeps sliding into the ocean?

This area has been a topic of debate for years. According to news reports over the past several months, the local authorities have installed ground pumps above the highway to remove moisture from the hillside; this in turn slows the rate of movement of the landslide.  To date, no affordable long-term solution has been identified to stop the landslide, beyond constantly monitoring/repaving the road.  Meanwhile, my understanding is that the landslide was triggered in 1956 when construction of Crenshaw Blvd. was underway.  AFAIK that last segment of Crenshaw was never finished/opened to the public, however the 1956 Thomas Guide includes Crenshaw Blvd. as if it were completed.  (In most cases I have found Thomas Guides to be highly accurate).

[Plutonic Panda]

Nice article about a balanced approach to LA roads and what seems like endless road diet projects:

https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away

[M3100]

a balanced approach to LA roads

https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away

Thx for providing the link. There are similar concerns in the suburbs. In some instances, there is a designated bike lanes that end at the city limit line; the adjacent city will use "sharrows" [painted symbols on the pavement] which allow bicycle riders to use an entire traffic lane.  Generally these are on local 25 mph streets and not arterial streets.

In Redondo Beach, one stretch of Palos Verdes Blvd. had their parking lanes removed and replaced with bike lanes, which are separated from regular traffic lanes with dividers. That made these routes safer for bicyclists, and added to parking congestion problems for local residents.

[DTComposer]

Just drove it and yeah, the road is in rough shape as it's always been. I wonder is there a long-term plan for this road or is there even a study? It would seem at some point they would need to build a bridge with some really deep pile drives for deep foundations. Seems like a long-term fix is gonna be pretty expensive. Or is it just going to be continuously fixed as the land keeps sliding into the ocean?

This area has been a topic of debate for years. According to news reports over the past several months, the local authorities have installed ground pumps above the highway to remove moisture from the hillside; this in turn slows the rate of movement of the landslide.  To date, no affordable long-term solution has been identified to stop the landslide, beyond constantly monitoring/repaving the road.  Meanwhile, my understanding is that the landslide was triggered in 1956 when construction of Crenshaw Blvd. was underway.  AFAIK that last segment of Crenshaw was never finished/opened to the public, however the 1956 Thomas Guide includes Crenshaw Blvd. as if it were completed.  (In most cases I have found Thomas Guides to be highly accurate).

Much of the grading for the southern portion of Crenshaw was done and is still visible on satellite view. I've found in my Thomas Guides from that era a few examples where they were a little optimistic and get ahead of themselves, marking roads that were planned/under construction but not complete.

I don't know the exact timeline, but I wonder if the extension/upgrading of Hawthorne Boulevard to the west was spurred as a substitute/replacement project to make the connection from Silver Spur to PV Drive?

[Rothman]

a balanced approach to LA roads

https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away

Thx for providing the link. There are similar concerns in the suburbs. In some instances, there is a designated bike lanes that end at the city limit line; the adjacent city will use "sharrows" [painted symbols on the pavement] which allow bicycle riders to use an entire traffic lane.  Generally these are on local 25 mph streets and not arterial streets.

In Redondo Beach, one stretch of Palos Verdes Blvd. had their parking lanes removed and replaced with bike lanes, which are separated from regular traffic lanes with dividers. That made these routes safer for bicyclists, and added to parking congestion problems for local residents.

Lane width can come into play with these decisions.  In NY, sharrows require 13 foot lanes, for example.  Can't be painted on lanes narrower than that.

[Plutonic Panda]

a balanced approach to LA roads

https://www.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33347-la-stop-the-war-on-cars-they-arent-going-away

Thx for providing the link. There are similar concerns in the suburbs. In some instances, there is a designated bike lanes that end at the city limit line; the adjacent city will use "sharrows" [painted symbols on the pavement] which allow bicycle riders to use an entire traffic lane.  Generally these are on local 25 mph streets and not arterial streets.

In Redondo Beach, one stretch of Palos Verdes Blvd. had their parking lanes removed and replaced with bike lanes, which are separated from regular traffic lanes with dividers. That made these routes safer for bicyclists, and added to parking congestion problems for local residents.

I also add too that a lot of these bike lanes are super tacky. Like an oversized strip of just blank wasted space of pavement. I mean, at least build a landscaped median island that has a shade tree or something that help with the urban heat island effect.

I don't know when, but I have a feeling at some point they're gonna remove a lot of these bike lanes.

And it's like the forest lawn road diet that was stopped by Karen Bass. She actually listened to the constituents who said reasonable things like this road gonna accommodate protected cycle lanes without having to remove car lanes. Space exist here. It's just proof that it's not about alternatives, it's about making driving harder.

That's why they wanna close the section of Wilshire Boulevard through MacArthur Park. That one little stretch of Wilshire going through MacArthur Park is not gonna change the park. There's already a connection that you can walk under. Wilshire when they open it. They can also add more sections there and have more ranger and police patrols if they feel like safety is an issue. To be honest, the safest parts of this park are the places closest to roadways where cars are traveling because people in the cars are actually law-abiding citizens, unlike most people that are in this park. I mean, it's insanity.

And I know this has been explained to me before, but I still think it's ridiculous that they took out a car lane on Hollywood Boulevard in the name of reducing car dependency. but rather than putting in something that would've been much more beneficial, like a bus lane, they put in a bike lane with parking lanes as a buffer.

And yes, I understand. the argument around parking, but we're not a poor city. We can build these things called parking garages. And honestly, at the end of the day, the road function just fine with busses and cars, with two lanes each way. Could improvements be made? absolutely.

And I'm not against removing car lanes in all situations, like in my opinion I didn't like the bus lane thing on LaBrea at first. Now I wish it would be at 24 seven thing. Or at least all throughout the daytime.

[pderocco]

I wish there was a law that require authorities that turn vehicle lanes into bike lanes measure the resulting traffic counts and publish them. I've seen far too many empty bike lines where there used to be a line of cars.