Landmark bridge to be replaced

State officials have good news for the Harbor area. Two aging, sagging bridges would finally be replaced under the current plan. There has been talk of replacing the span between Long Beach and Terminal Island with a modern architectural gem found in a European city. The Times' Patrick McGreevy rounds up action from the California Transportation Commission:

Projects to be funded include:

* The replacement of the Gerald Desmond and Schuyler Heim (pictured) bridges in the Los Angeles-Long Beach ports area.

* Building a 2-mile trench for rail lines under several streets in the cities of Alhambra, San Gabriel and Rosemead so cars no longer have to stop for passing trains.

* Providing 29 other grade-separation projects including lowering State College Boulevard, Placentia Avenue, Kraemer Boulevard and Valley View Avenue so cars can pass under the railroad tracks.

* Widening parts of California 91and Interstate 15.The commission also endorsed a controversial plan pushed by the administration of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to spend $97 million of the bond funds to build a 1.4-mile railroad bridge that would address a bottleneck in Colton.

It would eliminate a crossing for Union Pacific and Burlington Northern trains.

Comments

[Richard]

I live near one of the crossings in San Gabriel. We desperately need a grade seperation. I do not mind the traffic the construction would cause if it means not having to stop and wait for trains to pass!