Construction on a new Sixth Street Viaduct bridge will take at least eight months longer than originally planned and cost about $36 million more than originally planned, the Los Angeles Public Works Department said Thursday.
The delay and additional costs are due to a "refined schedule analysis" done by project contractor Stacy/Skanska and Witbeck, according to Mary Nemick, the public works department's director of communications.
The bridge is now scheduled to be completed sometime in late 2020, Nemick said.
A budget and finance committee report that recommended the extension said it was due to the contractor requiring more time than originally proposed to complete the project, but did not explain why.
The extension is due to a new analysis that "incorporated railroad restrictions, temperature control measures for the concrete curing and modifications to the construction sequence," Nemick said.
The extension and increased budget was approved Dec. 13 by the City Council.
The replacement bridge originally estimated to cost $449 million, now is pegged at $482 million.
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The old bridge -- which joined Boyle Heights with downtown Los Angeles for 84 years -- is being replaced due to deterioration caused by a chemical reaction in the concrete.
The council move committed the city to $13 million for the cost overrun, while $15.2 million is to come from Caltrans.
The city also has identified $4 million in federal reimbursements and $1.3 million in unexpended Proposition C funds from a previous project that could be used toward the cost.
Funding for the remaining $7.7 million will be sought over the next two fiscal years.
Nemick said in February the city will start holding public meetings on the design concept for the 12 acres of open and recreational space under the viaduct. Meeting dates will be announced in January.
"The community involvement process for the space will be extensive. We want everyone's feedback," Nemick said.
The iconic original bridge was seen in dozens of movies, including two "Terminator" films, "Horrible Bosses," "The Mask," "Grease," "Furious 7," "Point Blank" and "To Live and Die in L.A."
A number of musicians filmed videos on or around the bridge, including Madonna, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Avril Lavigne, Foo Fighters and Pharrell Williams.
