One of 9 bridges crossing the LA River in Downtown LA, the Art Deco Sixth Street Viaduct constructed in 1932, has a terminal case of "concrete cancer" (alkali–silica reaction, or ASR) which leads to structural failure over time. Predictive models project a 70% probability of total failure during a major earthquake within 50 years. It's scheduled for demolition this summer (2015). Fortunately, the iconic bridge connecting Downtown Los Angeles' Arts District with Boyle Heights, is preserved in countless films and music videos. The swooping arches of the new cable stayed design, pays tribute to the original...

Today, LA is reimagining the future of 11 miles of LA River-front as recreation and public space for future generations of Angelenos.  A massive one billion dollar revitalization project to restore wetlands and develop parks with river access was endorsed by the Army Corps of Engineers and waits final approval by Congress. If approved, the one billion dollar pricetag would be split equally between city, state and federal governments. 

Hard to imagine today -- with climate change and record drought in California -- but 77 years ago, two massive storm systems broke annual rainfall records -- in the course of 5 days -- killing 115 people, and destroying anything in the path of the untamed LA river. Countless lives lost, thousands of homes destroyed, entire roads and bridges wiped out. As Los Angeles developed and population grew along the banks of the LA River, controlling the flood waters became a necessity. After the historic floods of 1914, 1934 -- and the catastrophic flood of 1938, public outcry for flood control reached...