Earthquake Proof Mega Bridge
In Los Angeles, the iconic 6th Street Bridge – built in the 1930s - has formed the backdrop for hundreds of movies scenes, from Grease to Terminator 2. But over the years it has been weakened by ‘concrete cancer’, making it no longer safe in a state prone to earthquakes.
Now city planners and engineers are attempting to build a new 1066-metre long bridge in its place. Not only does it have an ambitious modern design, but it must also withstand a once-in-a-thousand-year quake. Constructing this massive new bridge is a huge challenge: engineers must demolish the old bridge without destroying the freeway that runs directly underneath; next they must pour thousands of tonnes of concrete into custom-built moulds, often working alongside and over an operational railway line. But the end result is a modern masterpiece, a stunning ‘ribbon of light’ that will be a Los Angeles icon for decades to come.