Earlier today, the City of Los Angeles held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new bridge across the L.A. River which will be reserved exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists.

“The L.A. River is an iconic destination for people across Los Angeles — and this groundbreaking is an important milestone in our work to build a more sustainable and connected city,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “This bridge will give Angelenos another way to enjoy our historic waterway by providing better access to green spaces, as well as new places to walk and bike.”

The Taylor Yard Bridge, which officially began construction in April 2019, will span 400 feet across the waterway, linking the Frogtown community with the proposed 42-acre park at the Taylor Yard G2 Parcel. Additionally, the new crossing will provide river access for residents of the Taylor Yard Transit Village, a mixed-income community that is being developed adjacent to the park site.

The orange-colored steel structure, designed by SPF:architects, will be 30 feet in height and 27 feet in width. Downtown-based Arup is serving as the project's lead engineer.

Construction of the $20.6-million project is expected to occur over two summers, with completion expected in 2021. The extended timeline is due to river closures between October and April.

A groundbreaking for the project was previously announced in May 2018, but was delayed as the City of Los Angeles pursued eminent domain proceedings to obtain an access easement for a property adjacent to the river.

The Taylor Yard Bridge is one of three pedestrian crossings now under construction along the L.A. River, joining a 325-foot span in Atwater Village and a 430-foot span within the Glendale-Hyperion bridge complex.