The North Atwater Bridge
The desire for this bridge began in 1998, when L.A. City Councilman John Ferraro filed a motion about the safety hazards existing just north of Los Feliz Boulevard for horses and their riders and the possibility of an equestrian bridge as a solution. However, with only the initial funding to explore its possibility, the project was at a standstill.
In 2010, Carol Armstrong of the the City of L.A. and River LA board chair, Harry Chandler, approached philanthropists Mort LaKretz and his daughter, Linda Duttenhaver about funding a multi-modal bridge. They agreed to pay for what became about 1/2 of the eventual cost. River LA’s, Executive Director Omar Brownson, led the effort, the City of L.A. provided the rest of the funding and a decade later, this 325 foot architectural masterpiece opened.
The design was a labor of love by Steve Chucovich while at BuroHappold Engineering. Mr. Chucovich worked closely with Ben Feldman of Studio-MLA, a landscape design firm. The overall design was supported and made possible by the critical engineering expertise provided by Andrew Willrodt of Fuscoe Engineering, TYLin and Vincent Ip Leighton.
River LA also relied upon the generous pro bono services of Holland & Knight and attorney, Douglas A. Praw.
There are also the many public sector collaborators. Many thanks to:
Deputy Mayor Barbara Romero
Chief Deputy City Engineer Deborah Weintraub
Executive Officer for City Services Dr. Carol Armstrong
LARiverWorks’ Michael Affeldt and Amalia Merino
Bureau of Engineering’s Shirley Lau and Marcelino Ascensio, Structural Review, Design Standards, Street Services, and all the approving departments
City Councilman, Tom LaBonge
LADOT staff
LA County Department of Public Works and County Flood Control staff
LADWP staff
Regional Water Quality Control Board staff
Department of Fish and Wildlife staff
CalTrans staff
Army Corps of Engineers staff
All of this work was also possible because of the continued support of River LA from folks like you.