Glendale-Hyperion Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glendale-Hyperion Bridge |
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The Glendale Hyperion Bridge circa 1928
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| Coordinates | 34°6′49″N 118°15′55″W / 34.11361°N 118.26528°W |
| Carries | Motor vehicles Red Cars (until 1959) |
| Crosses | Los Angeles River,  I-5 |
| Locale | Silver Lake, Atwater Village |
| Other name(s) | Hyperion Bridge, Victory Memorial Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Concrete arch viaduct |
| Total length | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Width | 85 ft (26 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Merrill Butler |
| Opened | February 1929 |
The Glendale-Hyperion Bridge is a cool concrete bridge in Atwater Village. It stretches over the Los Angeles River and Interstate 5. People in Atwater Village voted to build this bridge in 1927. It was finished in February 1929.
This bridge is 400 feet long and has four lanes for cars. It became even more famous when a smaller copy was built at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California.
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Building the Glendale-Hyperion Bridge
Before the Glendale-Hyperion Bridge, there was an old wooden bridge here. It was built around 1910 and was the main way into Atwater Village. Sadly, a big flood in 1927 washed it away.
After the old bridge collapsed, Atwater Village needed a new way to get to downtown Los Angeles. About 2,100 people lived in Atwater Village then. They voted to build a new bridge across the Los Angeles River. Construction started on March 27, 1927.
The plan grew to include crossing the freeway too. The city hired an architect named Merrill Butler to design it. He used a lot of concrete and steel to make it strong. They also put in many supports deep underground. The bridge has 13 arches. Merrill Butler spent about $2 million to build it. He even added a special section for trolley cars. The Hyperion Bridge officially opened in September 1928.
Red Cars and the Bridge
In 1929, the Pacific Electric Railway built train tracks next to the Hyperion Bridge. These tracks were for the famous Red Cars. These trolleys would cross the Los Angeles River and go down Glendale Boulevard. The Red Cars used this route until 1959. After that, freeways became more popular, and the train line closed. Today, the concrete walls that held the Red Car tracks are still there. The tracks themselves are gone.
The Bridge Today
Today, the Glendale-Hyperion Bridge is still very important. It helps people travel between Los Angeles and Glendale. In 2004, artists painted many murals on the old Red Car walls. Because of these murals, the area under the bridge is now called "Red Car Park."
In 2015, a new project was announced. A special bridge for walking and biking would be built. This new bridge would use the old Red Car supports. It would connect the two sides of the Los Angeles River. Construction began in 2018. The new bridge is 430 feet long and cost $4 million. It was finished in January 2020. It is named the Atwater Red Car Pedestrian Bridge to remember the old trolleys. It's a great spot for both walkers and bikers.
Disney's Hyperion Bridge
In 2012, a smaller version of the Hyperion Bridge opened at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. This mini-bridge looks just like the real one. It's part of Buena Vista Street and is used by the Disneyland Monorail System. Before 2012, this same monorail bridge looked like the Golden Gate Bridge.
Images for kids
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The 1910 wooden bridge shortly after it was destroyed by flooding in February of 1927.
