Los Angeles

‘101 Slow Jam': Freeway Reopens Ahead of Schedule

A 2.5-mile stretch of the 101 Freeway that was shut down to accommodate demolition of the Sixth Street Bridge reopened ahead of schedule on Sunday morning.

The closure near downtown Los Angeles, also known as the "101 Slow Jam,'' began at 10 p.m. Friday and was scheduled to end at 2 p.m. Sunday, but officials said the work appeared to be moving faster than expected. Lanes in both directions were reopened as of 10:15 a.m.

A 220-foot section of the deteriorating 84-year-old bridge was removed during the closure. Heavy construction equipment was deployed late Friday, bringing a symphony of jack-hammering and the sound of crumbling concrete to the site east of downtown Los Angeles. The bridge deck was demolished by Saturday morning.

One arch from the old bridge, built in 1932 and considered an important engineering achievement at the time, will be preserved during demolition and used in a community space that will be built underneath the bridge.

Officials attributed the early reopening to crewmembers' swift work, excellent weather and a lack of equipment issues.

"It's a great joy and relief. We know how important the 101 Freeway is to everybody," said City Engineer Gary Lee Moore.

During the closure, traffic has been diverted from an area that averages about 126,000 cars per day, according to Caltrans. The closure will affect the 10 to 101 Freeways transition, up to the 5, 10, and 101 Freeways interchange just south of downtown Los Angeles.

The bridge, which joins Boyle Heights with downtown Los Angeles, is being replaced due to deterioration caused by a chemical reaction in the concrete.

Demolition work is expected to last about nine months and be followed by a $449 million project to build a replacement bridge. The new bridge is anticipated to be completed by 2019 at the earliest. The design of the new bridge includes references to the current bridge, including 10 pairs of arches.

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The Bureau of Engineering released several detour routes and a map to help drivers during the temporary freeway closure.

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