Sixth Street Bridge: LAPD implements another overnight closure on $588M bridge
LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Police Department said that the Sixth Street Bridge linking downtown Los Angeles to Boyle Heights would be closed indefinitely Tuesday after continued concerns about illegal activity and safety. However, the bridge reopened early Wednesday morning.
STORY UPDATE: $588M Sixth Street Bridge reopens after 4th closure in 5 days
The bridge opened to the public back on July 10, just over two weeks ago, but in that brief time, it's been the center of attention in Los Angeles for all the wrong reasons. Street takeovers, graffiti, and crashes have plagued the bridge since its reopening. The LAPD has given out 57 citations on the bridge over the last four days, according to LAPD Chief Michel Moore.
"The 6th Street Bridge will be closed until further notice due to illegal activity and public safety concerns," the LAPD posted on Twitter Tuesday night.
SUGGESTED: Speed bumps coming to Sixth Street Bridge to help stop street takeovers
The construction of the bridge took six years and cost nearly $600 million. Ahead of its grand reopening, LA city Councilmember Kevin de León said the bridge would "rival the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park as iconic images of our city."
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: LA's Sixth Street Bridge reopens after 3rd closure in 3 days
The bridge has been closed multiple times, most recently every night this past weekend for what LAPD called "questionable activity." On Tuesday, Moore announced that speed bumps were being installed on the bridge to deter street takeovers and that a center median and fencing to discourage people from scaling the archways could also be installed soon on a temporary basis.
But given Tuesday night's announcement, those improvements can't come soon enough.