The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday instructed staff to being the process of establishing a dedicated fund for the purpose of maintaining the Sixth Street Viaduct Bridge.
In a unanimous vote, council members approved a motion introduced by Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents downtown neighborhoods where the bridge is located. Jurado described the maintenance trust fund as an innovative funding mechanism allowing the city to accept, retain and expend donations from private entities.
Funds from this account would be used for sanitation services, graffiti abatement and beautification for the bridge.
“The Sixth Street Bridge is an iconic gateway inseparable from the character of our Downtown and Eastside neighborhoods, yet it still lacks the investment necessary to remain as the vibrant, welcoming fixture it was designed to be,” Jurado said in her remarks during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
“This trust fund would create a dedicated place to receive contributions and put them toward stewarding the viaduct’s ongoing cleanliness and long-term prosperity,” she added.
A man rides across the Sixth Street Viaduct in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The $588 million bridge was coined “Ribbon of Light” in 2022 but went dark as vandals and thieves made off with valuable copper wiring. Los Angeles’ Bureau of Engineering engineering is hiring Tetra Tech to fortify and relight the bridge. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A car drives across a dark Sixth Street Viaduct in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The $588 million bridge was coined “Ribbon of Light” in 2022 but went dark as vandals and thieves made off with valuable copper wiring. Los Angeles’ Bureau of Engineering engineering is hiring Tetra Tech to fortify and relight the bridge. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Spent fireworks are seen on the Sixth Street Viaduct in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The $588 million bridge was coined “Ribbon of Light” in 2022 but went dark as vandals and thieves made off with valuable copper wiring. Los Angeles’ Bureau of Engineering engineering is hiring Tetra Tech to fortify and relight the bridge. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rafael Rojas, 31, of Boyle Heights, runs across the Sixth Street Viaduct in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 19, 2026 and says the bridge has been dark too long. The $588 million bridge was coined “Ribbon of Light” in 2022 but went dark as vandals and thieves made off with valuable copper wiring. Los Angeles’ Bureau of Engineering engineering is hiring Tetra Tech to fortify and relight the bridge. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Overcast skies and much cooler temperatures were experienced early Wednesday, March 26, 2025, along the Sixth Street Bridge looking towards Los Angeles . Temperatures were set to remain cooler through the weekend. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sailors from the USS Carl Vinson march across the Sixth Street Bridge in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, May 27, 2024, in a Memorial Day tribute to those service members who have died fighting for their country. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wires have been pulled out of dozens of electrical boxes along the Sixth Street Bridge as thieves have been stealing copper, as seen in Los Angeles on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Wires pulled out of dozens of electrical boxes along the Sixth Street Bridge arches are seen after thieves stole copper wire from the new Los Angeles structure on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
High school students and police officials from various agencies walk across the Sixth Street Bridge during the Good Trouble Walk & Cultural Sensitivity Summit in Los Angeles on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Traffic moves along the new Sixth Street bridge between the Arts District and Boyle Heights on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. It is seen after another street takeover has left the pavement scarred with skid marks. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Traffic moves along the new Sixth Street bridge between the Arts District and Boyle Heights on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Another street takeover left the pavement scarred with skid marks. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Traffic moves along the new Sixth Street bridge between the Arts District and Boyle Heights on Tuesday, July 19, 2022. Another street takeover has left the pavement scarred with skid marks. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Fireworks light up the night at the end of the 6th street bridge celebration Saturday’s event July 9,2022. The City of Los Angeles $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project.
The design of the new bridge, known as ???The Ribbon of Light???, was created by HNTB and l bridge built in 1932.
(Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)
The City of Los Angeles does a test lighting on the $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project Friday night in Los Angeles, CA. July 8,2022.
Its the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles. It is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the California Department of Transportation, as well as City funds.
The design of the new bridge, known as The Ribbon of Light was created by HNTB and l bridge built in 1932.
(Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer
The City of Los Angeles does a test lighting on the $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project Friday night in Los Angeles, CA. July 8,2022.
Its the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles. It is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the California Department of Transportation, as well as City funds.
The new bridge, known as “The Ribbon of Light,” was designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture with engineering firm HNTB.
(Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer
The City of Los Angeles does a test lighting on the $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project Friday night in Los Angeles, CA. July 8,2022.
Its the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles. It is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and the California Department of Transportation, as well as City funds.
The design of the new bridge, known as The Ribbon of Light was created by HNTB and l bridge built in 1932.
(Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer
Workers were preparing the bridge on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, for the grand opening this weekend. The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering’s $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project is the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles. The design of the new bridge, known as “The Ribbon of Light”, replaces the seismically-deficient original bridge built in 1932. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Workers were preparing the bridge on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, for the grand opening this weekend. The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering’s $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project is the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles. The design of the new bridge, known as “The Ribbon of Light”, replaces the seismically-deficient original bridge built in 1932. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Workers were preparing the bridge on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, for the grand opening this weekend. The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering’s $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project is the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles. The design of the new bridge, known as “The Ribbon of Light”, replaces the seismically-deficient original bridge built in 1932. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Workers were preparing the bridge on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, for the grand opening this weekend. The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering’s $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement Project is the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles. The design of the new bridge, known as “The Ribbon of Light”, replaces the seismically-deficient original bridge built in 1932. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Workers pour and smooth the concrete for the last of the 20 arches on the Sixth Street Viaduct project, replacing the bridge connecting Boyle Heights and the downtown Arts District on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Workers pour and smooth the concrete for the last of the 20 arches on the Sixth Street Viaduct project, replacing the bridge connecting Boyle Heights and the downtown Arts District on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The 101 freeway will close for 55 hours between Friday April 30th at 10 p.m. and Monday May 3rd at 5 a.m. for a concrete arch pour. The construction of the $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct replacement project, will require the extended closure to construct two arches over the freeway. Construction crews work on the bridge on Saturday, April 24, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The 101 freeway will close for 55 hours between Friday April 30th at 10 p.m. and Monday May 3rd at 5 a.m. for a concrete arch pour. The construction of the $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct replacement project, will require the extended closure to construct two arches over the freeway. Construction crews work on the bridge on Saturday, April 24, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The 101 freeway will close for 55 hours between Friday April 30th at 10 p.m. and Monday May 3rd at 5 a.m. for a concrete arch pour. The construction of the $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct replacement project, will require the extended closure to construct two arches over the freeway. Construction crews work on the bridge on Saturday, April 24, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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A man rides across the Sixth Street Viaduct in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The $588 million bridge was coined “Ribbon of Light” in 2022 but went dark as vandals and thieves made off with valuable copper wiring. Los Angeles’ Bureau of Engineering engineering is hiring Tetra Tech to fortify and relight the bridge. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Jurado has also partnered with the Los Angeles Conservation Corps (LACC) to provide additional beautification services dedicated to the Sixth Street Bridge and Council District 14.
LACC would continue to supplement services provided by LA Sanitation through graffiti removal, brush and weed abatement, bulky item pickup and trash pickup on an ongoing basis.
The $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct Bridge has been impacted by copper wire theft, among other issues, since it came online in 2022. It replaced the original 1932 structure that was demolished in 2016 due to structural issues.
Underneath the bridge, city officials recently announced they would be delaying the opening of the new $60 million, 12-acre Sixth Street PARC, or Park, Arts, River and Connectivity project, until next year. The Bureau of Engineering has stated the issue stems from the installation of playground equipment. It was originally slated for opening in the fall.
Residents and business owners have raised concerns about how the city will keep the peace and maintain the park. Some residents worry the park may be overrun by homeless individuals or encampments or turn into a site for crime.
Councilmember Jurado has stated she is working with city departments to enact a safety plan once the park is open.