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Higuera Street Bridge Replacement Project

Announcement

Project Completed.

Project TypeStreet and Infrastructure Improvements
Completion DateMay 15, 2023

Photograph of ariel view of Higuera St bridge and surrounding buildings and intersecting streets Jefferson Blvd and Eastham Dr, as well as Ballona Creek below, 2021

Project Overview

Opening Celebration

Culver City officially celebrated the opening of the bridge and the new connecting bike ramp to Ballona Creek on October 30, 2023. Special guest Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove joined Culver City Council Members, staff, project team members, and other guests to recognize this achievement, which improves mobility safety, accessibility, and connectivity in Culver City.

Higuera Bridge Opening on 10/30/2023, featuring (L-R) Council Member Dan O'Brien, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Council Member Goran Eriksson, Council Member Freddy Puza, and David McNeill from the Baldwin Hills Conservancy

(L-R) Council Member Dan O'Brien, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Council Member Göran Eriksson, Council Member Freddy Puza, and David McNeill from the Baldwin Hills Conservancy

“I am glad to join Culver City leadership, including Council Members Freddy Puza, Dan O'Brien, Göran Eriksson, to celebrate the opening of the new Higuera Street Bridge,” said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. “Thanks to almost $8 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Culver City residents are better connected to businesses and green space with safe paths for bicyclists and pedestrians. I will continue to work with state and local partners to bring home critical federal funds to support projects like these.”

Construction Schedule

Start: September 20, 2021
Completion: May 15, 2023 (original completion date extended due to weather)

Key Highlights

This ambitious endeavor brought a multitude of improvements to the Higuera Street Bridge:

Replacement of old bridge with safer and wider structure, 27 additional feet;
Added travel lane, resulting in two lanes in each direction, to alleviate congestion;
Introduction of new bike lanes with lane line buffers in each direction to promote safe cycling;
Creation of new bike ramp connection to the Ballona Creek Bike Path, connecting Hayden Tract businesses to the bike path;
Widened sidewalks, making it safer for pedestrians;
Traffic signal upgrades at Jefferson Blvd and new striping to improve traffic flow; and
Added retaining walls, landscaping, and irrigation for an aesthetically pleasing bridge area.

2022 Image showing Higuera St Bridge usage diagram, showing pedestrians, bike and car lanes

Project Details

In May 2023, the City of Culver City (City) completed replacement of the Higuera Street Bridge over Ballona Creek, located along Higuera St between Eastham Dr and Jefferson Blvd in the Hayden Tract area. The previous Higuera Street Bridge was demolished in late 2021 and a new, wider bridge, with 27 additional feet, was constructed featuring significant improvements. Improvements include protected bike lanes in both directions, widened sidewalks, a shaded overlook onto Ballona Creek, a new traffic lane in each direction, traffic signal upgrades at the Jefferson Blvd/Higuera St/Obama Blvd intersection, new pavement and striping, fencing, and retaining walls, and a new access ramp to the Ballona Creek Bike Path connecting the Hayden Tract businesses to the bike path.

The old Higuera Bridge, built in 1938, had been declared functionally obsolete by Los Angeles County bridge inspectors. Culver City took advantage of a grant opportunity with the Highway Bridge Program and began planning for the bridge replacement in 2008. One of the major Project challenges was demolishing the old bridge and constructing the new one within the dry part of the year, as permitted by the Army Corps of Engineers. The final stage of construction was in fact delayed by heavy rains, but the bridge and ramp were opened May 16, 2023.

Collaborators

City of Culver City planned, coordinated, and oversaw completion of the project, working in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District and the Army Corp of Engineers, which manage Ballona Creek, and with Caltrans (California Department of Transportation), the state agency responsible for transportation infrastructure, as well as the City of Los Angeles. These agencies coordinated with the City to meet safety standards, provide technical expertise, and facilitate the project.

Senior Civil Engineer Sammy Romo managed the Project for the City. Contractor Ortiz Enterprises, Inc. was the construction company responsible for the bridge replacement and bike ramp, both demolition and new construction. IDC Consulting provided design engineering for the Project and Biggs Cardosa/Mark Thomas managed the Project and provided inspection services.

Construction Impacts

Higuera St, between Jefferson Blvd and Eastham Dr, was closed beginning 09/20/2021 to all vehicle, pedestrians, and bicycle traffic and closed throughout construction until project completion. Traffic detoured to National Blvd, Hayden Ave, Eastham Dr, and Jefferson Blvd. Flaggers may be on site to direct traffic.
The Ballona Creek Bike Path was closed during bridge demolition and intermittently throughout project. The Ballona Creek Bike Path was otherwise open during construction, with intermittent temporary closures. At such times, closure notices were be placed at strategic locations to direct bicyclists to Jefferson Blvd.
Nearby businesses and their access entrances remained open during construction.
Construction was noisy and nearby businesses/residents may have felt vibrations. The construction contractor attempted to minimize these inconveniences.

Project Cost & Funding

Overall, the Higuera Bridge Replacement Project cost $11.1 million. This included $9.7 million for the bridge replacement ($1.4 million for design, $6.9 million for construction, and $1.4 million for construction management and inspection) and an additional $1.4 million for design and construction of the connecting ramp to the Ballona Creek Bike Path.

The bridge replacement was funded largely by a $7.9 million grant from the Federal Highway Bridge Program, with additional funding from local Culver City matching funds. The Federal Highway Bridge Program supports critical infrastructure enhancements and safety improvements on bridges across the country. Culver City matching funds included monies from Gas Tax, Measure R, Cumulus Traffic Mitigation Funds, and General Funds.

The connecting ramp to the Ballona Creek Bike Path was funded by a Metro’s Call for Projects grant, a Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy Proposition 84 grant, and local Culver City matching funds. Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) awarded a grant to support construction of the bike ramp to enhance area transportation connectivity and accessibility. The Conservancy grant contributed to funding the design of the bike ramp. The Baldwin Hills and Urban Watersheds Conservancy’s mission is to acquire open space and manage public lands within the Baldwin Hills, Ballona Creek, and Upper Dominguez Channel watersheds and Proposition 84 focuses on environmental conservation and water quality projects.

Project Images

Opening Event 10/30/2023

Higuera Bridge Event on 10/30/2023 featuring Sydney Kamlager-Dove with Council Members Dan O'Brien, Goran Eriksson and Freddy Puza in background.

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove spoke about the completion of the project, celebrating with Culver City Council Members Dan O'Brien, Göran Eriksson, and Freddy Puza.

Higuera Bridge Opening Event featuring from Culver City's Senior Engineer and Project Manager Sammy Romo and Engineering Manager Mate Gaspar, Public Works Director Yanni Demitri, and Council Member Dan O'Brien in the background.

Culver City's Senior Engineer/Project Manager Sammy Romo recognizing collaborators, with Engineering Manager Mate Gaspar, Public Works Director Yanni Demitri, and Council Member Dan O'Brien looking on.

Higuera Bridge Event on 10/30/2023 featuring Jim Shanman from Walk 'n Rollers and Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee Members Travis Morgan and Jack Gallanty

Jim Shanman from Walk ‘n Rollers and Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee members Travis Morgan and Jack Gallanty attended the commemoration.

Higuera Bridge Event on 10/30/2023 featuring Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Council Member Freddy Puza

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove speaking with Culver City Council Member Freddy Puza.

Higuera Street Bridge Construction

Image of Higuera Street Bridge showing partial reconstruction..

Image of Higuera Street Bridge showing partial reconstruction.

Photograph of demolition of Higuera Street Bridge, showing construction equipment working to remove a segment of bridge

Higuera Street Bridge Pre-Construction 08/2021

2021 photograph of intersection of Higuera St and Jefferson Blvd, showing signal light, street lanes, and Higuera St bridge 2021 photograph of Higuera St Bridge crossing over Ballona Creek, showing Higuera St street lanes and crosswalk