CultureNOW - Gold Line Bridge: AECOM, Andrew Leicester and Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority

Gold Line Bridge

Artist
Andrew Leicester

Architect
AECOM

Client
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority - Chief Executive Officer, Habib F Balian

Dates

Constructed, 2012

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Description

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The bridge is the first and largest California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) infrastructure project of its kind. The Construction Authority brought in the artist early to lead the design process before the design-build team was selected. In 2009, the agency put out a national call, and a committee of community stakeholders selected the Minnesota-based Leicester from a group of 15 highly qualified public artists.
“Our approach was very different in that the art inspired the engineering and not vice versa,” Balian said. “We wanted an artist to create the sculptural form for the bridge from the start, not have the art be an afterthought.”

As the design concept adviser, Leicester has continued with the project beyond the concept stage. He worked alongside the design-builder, Skanska USA, and its Los Angeles-based design consultant, AECOM, to ensure the final design and construction were true to the overall vision. This collaboration resulted in the creation of a sculptural light rail bridge, built for the same cost originally estimated for a typical light rail structure.

The project also marks the first time such intricate design, structural and architectural elements were incorporated into transit infrastructure. The bridge is anchored by two 25 foot ‘baskets’ that pay tribute to the indigenous peoples of the San Gabriel Valley and the oversize iconic roadside traditions of nearby Route 66. The serpentine main underbelly of the bridge features casted grooves and hatch-marks that simulate the patterns found on the Western Diamondback snake, metaphorically referencing the spine of the transit system.

“It was an extraordinarily unique opportunity,” Leicester said. “Being involved from the beginning really allowed me to impact the overall gestalt. I am deeply grateful to the Construction Authority for their leadership and commitment to quality, which ensured the bridge adhered to the original concept. The average person does not ordinarily encounter art in their everyday environment. I want people to be intrigued by the mystery of it.”

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Location

I-210
Foothill Freeway & Baldwin Road
Arcadia, CA 91006
United States

Nearby Items

Spanish American War Memorial or The Hiker		1.2 miles
Je N'Oublierai Pas		1.3 miles
Pasadena Doo Dah Parade		2.8 miles
Whole Flow		3.2 miles
Images of Commonality/Nature and Movement		3.8 miles
Kvadrat		4.1 miles
Kirkel		4.1 miles