Major bridge work begins

Cross beams began being installed this week for the “falsework” on the “iconic” Gold Line bridge over the eastbound lanes of the I-210 freeway between Baldwin and Santa Anita Avenues. Meanwhile, the Metro Gold Line FOothill Extension Construction Authority announced Wednesday (Feb. 15) that work on the $18.6 mil. bridge thus far — 60% complete after 9-months and nearly 30,000 “man-hours,” has injury-free. Work is to be completed late this summer.

Each bridge beam ranges from 90-100 feet long, the length needed to cross all eastbound lanes. Over the next several weeks, about 50 beams will be added, stretching 330 feet from west to east. The falsework will create a safe work space for crews to construct the bridge superstructure that will take the  light rail train from Pasadena over the bridge , through Arcadia and another 11.5 miles to Azusa by 2015.

Up to 20 late-night closures of the lanes are planned during the remainder of February and into March — up to three lanes closed from 10 p.m. – 5 a.m.

— By Scott Hettrick