'Ribbon of light' loses shine

The 6th Street Bridge, once a glowing landmark, has gone dark after copper wire theft

- NATHAN SOLIS

THE BOYLE HEIGHTS Bridge Runners Club runs across the 6th Street Bridge, which is unlit on Oct. 1.

When the 6th Street Bridge opened, it was promoted as a gateway to usher in a new era for Los Angeles, an architectural masterpiece showcasing the city's place on the world stage before the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

With its 10 rising arches, illuminated with thousands of LEDs to look like a ribbon of light for miles around, the bridge was hailed as the next L.A. monument, up there with the likes of the Hollywood sign and the "Urban Light" assemblage at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

ON BROADWAY and 23rd in downtown, cut wires can be seen from one of L.A.'s historic streetlights.

But three years later, the lofty aspirations for the bridge have gone dark, along with its rising arches, because of copper thieves. Today, the viaduct is less an emblem of urban architectural modernity and more a safety risk for drivers, joggers and pedestrians crossing the Los Angeles River at night.

The 6th Street Viaduct was the city's most expensive bridge project to date, costing an estimated $588 million, and was meant to set off a wave of other public projects across the city. According to estimates from city officials, the thieves who stripped the bridge's copper wiring probably netted about $11,000.

But it will cost the city $2.5 million to assess and repair the damage, according to Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, whose district includes downtown and Boyle Heights.

"It's fully funded, and it will be lit, I've been assured by many departments, by the 2028 Olympics," Jurado said about the proposed repairs. She's also asked the city to allocate $1.7 million in discretionary funds for a dedicated streetlight repair team in her district.