Santa Monica's Iconic California Incline Closed For Year-Long Reconstruction Project

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — The California Incline bridge in Santa Monica was closed Monday morning for a year-long reconstruction project.

The bridge between Ocean Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway will be completely demolished and rebuilt before spring 2016, city officials said.

The new bridge will be reconstructed to meet current seismic standards.

"We're going to demolish it before an earthquake does, because it's in bad shape," Jeff McDermott from MCM Construction said. "It's got exposed rebar, concrete falling off, potholes everywhere – it's a disaster waiting to happen. It's just in time that we're going to reconstruct it."

The project includes the enhancement of the stability of the adjacent bluff, the width of the bridge will be extended by five and a half feet and a 16-foot wide separated bicycle and pedestrian walkway will be added, city officials said.

The CA Incline, an iconic symbol in Santa Monica, was last renovated in 1930.

Drivers will be directed to take the temporary detour routes on Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard during the closure.

Southbound traffic on the Pacific Coast Highway will be directed to use the Moomat Ahiko Way off-ramp to Ocean Avenue, and westbound traffic coming from the I-10 will be directed to use Lincoln Boulevard.

The project's estimated $20 million cost will be primarily funded by the federal Highway Bridge Program (HPB), according to officials.