If you remember, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority held an open bid for artists to submit designs for an iconic gateway structure over the 210 Freeway in Arcadia. Specifically, it will be a 739-foot railway bridge that will span the 210’s eastbound lanes near the Santa Anita Avenue exit.

Not wanting to waste or wait another minute, the Authority recently started prep work (see images below) on the bridge that will welcome drivers and future Foothill Extension riders to the San Gabriel Valley – from South Pasadena to Montclair. (What will it look like? Who knows? That’s the fun.) From the latest email update sent yesterday from Foothill Extension Construction Authority Chief Executive Officer Habib Balian: “…workers will be extracting soil samples from 100 feet below the surface in the right-of-way adjacent to Newcastle Park and along the eastbound lanes of the freeway. The soil will be analyzed to help engineers design the foundation for the bridge.”

The prep work is being done in anticipation of the Foothill Extension securing a commitment from Metro to build the line. Metro has included sufficient funding for construction to begin next June in the draft Long Range Transportation Plan, which is expected to be considered at the July 23 meeting. If Metro approves the LRTP with the Foothill Extension’s funding as is, then the Authority will be ready for everything to fall into place.

As for the design of the bridge, the Authority has received proposals from artists (video). The proposal period ended yesterday and, according to the schedule in the Request For Qualifications, the Authority’s board of directors is expected to select the artist at its July 22 meeting. We hope to hear more about this soon.

Click on the images below for a larger view.