I took this photo at dusk, when colors are blending into gray. I fooled around with the picture. Tried making the shadows lighter, tried sharpening the edges, tried it in black and white. In the end I left it unaltered.The La Loma Bridge spans the Arroyo Seco about a mile south of the Colorado Street Bridge. The La Loma Bridge is around 90 years old and in need of a retrofit. It's been discovered that the Eagle Rock Fault runs beneath the bridge, so that's going to have to be one damn fine retrofit.
I hope it doesn't change the look of the bridge. I don't think the look needs messing with.
15 comments:
The look is perfect--both of bridge and photo.
I agree, Petrea ~ it's very attractive! It reminds me of aquaducts in a funny way. So does everyone hold their breath when they drive across it? {I ask because of its seismic fragility, not because it reminds me of aquaducts...}
Just like me... Most of the time I play with my photos but 99% I decided that its best unaltered..Beautiful shot..
It is so lovely, should get some kind of historical designation to preserve.
LL
I remember this bridge was a shortcut my wife (then girlfriend -- 20 years ago) would use between her apartment in Eagle Rock and her work in Pasadena. Thanks for reminding me of it again; it's been years since I have traversed it.
It's a pretty one, thanks Dina.
Shell, like living in an earthquake-prone area, you can't live your life thinking about it. A quake is like a tornado in a way--it's going to do damage for sure, you just don't know what or where.
Thanks, TD.
Lori Lynn, fortunately the bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. I like to think the money would be spent to preserve it even if it weren't, but you never know.
Get on down there, Loren. You can take your family for a walk in Lower Arroyo Park and walk right under it. Just go south from the parking lot.
Sounds like it needs a retrofit 4 sure. Or it will be renamed...The La Loma Prieta earthquake bridge.
Actually, it does have another name...quite a bit darker...it's also known as Suicide Bridge. Years ago they made some adaptations to the railings to prevent those unfortunate souls from trying to make this their last leap into forever...while I don't think anyone's tried it for quite awhile, the new railings were not completely successful in preventing this from happening...It's a beautiful bridge, but when I cross it, I'm always just a bit sad...perhaps when we cross it, it's an opportunity for us say a short prayer and bless those who felt they couldn't go on...
so thats the name of the bridge!
cool-ness
Gorgeous!
The La Loma bridge was going to be restored about now, but the project's been delayed for some reason (probably money-related). Those of us living nearby were asked to choose what the city should do with it, and one of the options was to pull it down and build a modern bridge - can you imagine? I'm so glad that option (the cheapest, of course) was rejected. By the way, this is not the Suicide Bridge, although it's by the same architect - the only thing that gets thrown off it are old TV sets and pumpkins.
Chieftess, as Bellis says, the "suicide bridge" is actually the Colorado Street Bridge. It's still in use for that unfortunate purpose; my husband read about a suicide there just weeks ago.
Bellis, I get the idea from the Wikipedia article that the discovery of the fault is what delayed the work. It changes the type of retrofit they have to do, or something like that. And thank you, Bellis and fellow citizens, for choosing the more beautiful (if more expensive) option. I moved to Pasadena because of its respect for history and beauty, and I'm pleased to direct my tax money for such projects.
this is not "the" suicide bridge of Pasadena. There may have been jumpers, but it isn't as high as the Colorado Street bridge, nor has it been altered the way CS bridge was.
I have loved this bridge for most of my life. Friends used to live in Eagle Rock and we'd take it over and back to see them. Scared outta my wits one night when a family friend (in his 80's) decided to drive me home---he was slightly sauced and La Loma isn't exactly the least curvy road, in his huuuuge Cadillac.
I have to laugh---they've just NOW figured a fault runs under here? There was a quake in...88 or 89 I think that was centered right near the Rose Bowl---I think a ~4.0+. Enuf to scare us all silly and run for the doors, but not a lot of damage. It *had* to have run down the arroyo, at least, that's what I recall Dr Jones telling us when we watched her on TV telling us the details of the quake as per usual. Can't believe it took 20 years to figure out it might be a problem if a major quake hit near the La Loma bridge!
And yes---great pic---I've found that other than cropping sometimes, leaving the pic alone is usually best.
I stand corrected!!! So sorry...they do look so similar!!!
Very lovely and wistful
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