EARTHQUAKE / LIFELINES OF L.A. : Fixing the Freeways

Earthquakes have shown that the weak links in California’s freeway system are its overpasses and bridges. Out of a statewide total of 12,000 freeway bridges, Caltrans officials have decided that 1,313 should be strengthened, and work on 251 of them has been completed. In Los Angeles County, there are 2,523 freeway bridges, with 716 scheduled for retrofitting and 115 completed. The map shows the status of remedial work on major Southland routes.

California 1 Total bridges: 65 Retrofitted bridges: 0 Yet to be retrofitted: 22 Highway completed: 1966 Quake damage: $30.7 million

Glendale Freeway Total bridges: 66 Retrofitted bridges: 6 Yet to be retrofitted: 11 Highway completed: 1978 Quake damage: $5.3 million

Interstate 5 Total bridges: 342 Retrofitted bridges: 17 Yet to be retrofitted: 104 Highway completed: 1975 Quake damage: $178.4 million

Interstate 10 Total bridges: 283 Retrofitted bridges: 6 Yet to be retrofitted: 66 Highway completed: 1966 Quake damage: $72 million

California 14 / Antelope Valley Total bridges: 153 Bridges retrofitted: 1 Yet to be retrofitted: 29 Highway completed: 1974 Quake damage: $37.2 million

California 19 Total bridges: 26 Bridges retrofitted: 0 Yet to be retrofitted: 2 Highway completed: NA Quake damage: None

California 39 Total bridges: 17 Bridges retrofitted: 0 Yet to be retrofitted: 2 Highway completed: NA Quake damage: None

Orange Freeway Total bridges: 24 Bridges retrofitted: 1 Yet to be retrofitted: 6 Highway completed: 1972 Quake damage: None

Pomona Freeway Total bridges: 108 Bridges retrofitted: 8 Yet to be retrofitted: 10 Highway completed: 1971 Quake damage: None

Marina Freeway Total bridges: 10 Bridges retrofitted: 2 Yet to be retrofitted: 2 Highway completed: 1972 Quake damage: $2 million

Redondo Beach / Artesia Total bridges: 71 Bridges retrofitted: 2 Yet to be retrofitted: 20 Highway completed: 1985 Quake damage: None

Hollywood / Ventura Freeway Total bridges: 186 Bridges retrofitted: 1 Yet to be retrofitted: 47 Highway completed: 1965 Quake damage: $ 9.4 million

Harbor / Pasadena Freeway Total bridges: 231 Bridges retrofitted: 12 Yet to be retrofitted: 40 Highway completed: 1970 Quake damage: None

Simi Valley Freeway Total bridges: 75 Bridges retrofitted: 2 Yet to be retrofitted: 10 Highway completed: 1983 Quake damage: $130 million

Ventura Freeway Total bridges: 88 Bridges retrofitted: 11 Yet to be retrofitted: 27 Highway completed: 1974 Quake damage: $8.7 million

California 170 Total bridges: 33 Bridges retrofitted: 6 Yet to be retrofitted: 4 Highway completed: 1968 Quake damage: $2.8 million

Foothill Freeway Total bridges: 244 Bridges retrofitted: 11 Yet to be retrofitted: 61 Highway completed: 1981 Quake damage: $19 million

San Diego Freeway Total bridges: 232 Bridges retrofitted: 16 Yet to be retrofitted: 50 Highway completed: 1964 Quake damage: $122 million

San Gabriel River Freeway Total bridges: 103 Bridges retrofitted: 8 Yet to be retrofitted: 21 Highway completed: 1971 Quake damage: None

Long Beach Freeway Total bridges: 121 Bridges retrofitted: 4 Yet to be retrofitted: 42 Highway completed: 1976 Quake damage: $3.5 million

Source: Caltrans