Photos: Juan Ocampo/Metro
Metro Deputy CEO Lindy Lee joined Caltrans this morning for a milestone ribbon cutting ceremony for the Shoemaker Avenue Bridge project. It is one of three bridges associated with the $180 million I-5 South HOV Widening/Rosecrans/Bloomfield Bridges widening project. Shoemaker Ave. bridge is the first completely reconstructed bridge to open to the public. Metro was a significant funding partner, programming $40.4 million from Proposition C towards the total project cost.
The newly reconstructed bridge serves as a vital artery for local commuters in the cities of Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs. It is also a major thoroughfare for school buses from the La Mirada-Norwalk School District.
Keep reading after the jump for the full press release from Caltrans.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) today opened the newly reconstructed Shoemaker Avenue Bridge, one of three new bridges to be constructed for the $180 million Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) HOV/Rosecrans, Bloomfield, Shoemaker Bridges Project that broke ground on February 6, 2013.
“Caltrans is making a solid investment on the Santa Ana Freeway that will significantly lower traffic congestion while improving safety and supporting economic growth,” said Caltrans District 7 Director Carrie Bowen.
The two-lane, local bridge that spans Interstate 5 reopened today following a “Milestone Ribbon Cutting” event held on the Shoemaker Avenue Bridge. The event was hosted by Caltrans and its local transportation partners, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), and the Federal Highway Administration, and attended by regional transportation partners, the I-5 Consortium Cities Joint Powers Authority, the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA/Metrolink), and legislators, elected officials, residents and businesses from the cities of Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs.
The bridge was completely demolished shortly after the project began and rebuilt within 15 months with current design standards and features, including a longer span to accommodate a wider I-5 freeway that is now under construction. The bridge carries approximately 15,000 vehicles daily. The bridge, with no on-ramp or off-ramps connecting to the freeway, mainly serves local commuters, school transportation buses and many commercial and business vehicles. The bridge connects two cities: Norwalk on the north side of the bridge and Santa Fe Springs towards the south.
The work is part of the I-5 South Corridor Improvement Projects, a $1.8 billion package of six projects extending nearly seven miles from the Los Angeles County/Orange County line to the San Gabriel River Freeway (Interstate 605). More than 220,000 vehicles travel this section of I-5 daily.
The I-5 HOV/Rosecrans, Bloomfield and Shoemaker Bridges Project is funded by federal, state, and local monies, including $118 million from Proposition 1B, a 2006 voter-approved transportation bond, $21.6 million from state transportation funds, and $40.4 million from Metro’s Proposition C and Measure R.
“This I-5 South Corridor Improvement Project is another example of the key role Metro has in the highway system by providing funds for needed highway improvements and modernization,” said Metro Board Chair Diane DuBois. “Metro has a multi-modal approach to mobility and the revitalization of our highway system and arterial network is key to maintaining LA County’s economic edge.”
This project will add one carpool lane and one regular lane in each direction from Shoemaker Avenue to Silverbow Avenue; reconstruct the Rosecrans, Bloomfield and Shoemaker bridges; build a pedestrian overcrossing at Silverbow Avenue; and upgrade the Firestone Boulevard frontage road. Flatiron West, Inc. of San Marcos, CA. is the prime contractor. For more information on the I-5 Corridor Projects, visit www.I-5info.com or call toll-free at 855-454-6335.