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6th Street Bridge Underpass

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Play the L.A. River is a come-one-come-all project by the arts collective Project 51 -- a collective of L.A. River-loving artists, designers, planners, writers, educators -- that invites Angelenos to explore, enjoy, reclaim, and reimagine the mighty L.A. River as a grand civic space that can green and connect our communities.

CARD: 12 of Downtown

SITE: 590 Santa Fe Avenue, Los Angeles 90013

Grease, Point Break, music videos, crime shows! Everyone's seen this famous film location. Here's your chance to get up close and personal.

As one of the most distinct bridges in Los Angeles, the Sixth Street Viaduct has been seen in countless number of films, TV shows, and commercials, not to mention the thousands of photographs taken by chroniclers of urban beauty. Built in 1932, the bridge straddles three freeways (101, 10, 5) and the Los Angeles River, connecting the rapidly developing downtown Arts District with the historic community of Boyle Heights. Seeing the bridge from all angles, from walking underneath on the east-side where the trains roll through, to strolling down the corridor along the river itself, it's hard to not appreciate this senior of a bridge.

Sadly, it's been found that this L.A. icon suffers from what's been described as "concrete cancer," with high alkali content in the cement leading to a reaction with the sand that causes cracking, and eventually structural failure. Due to this, the bridge will be demolished in 2015 to make way for a brand new one, which aims to create opportunities for recreation at both ends of the bridge, as well as on top and underneath.

On Saturday, March 28, at 4 p.m., you'll have a chance to explore the Sixth Street bridge and the river underneath, when the L.A. Urban Rangers host the L.A. River Ramble, guiding urban hikers on a journey along the L.A. River and underneath the massive bridge. Don't miss what may be your last opportunity to experience this historical landmark before it's taken down!

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Photo: Ed Fuentes

How do you play the L.A. River at the 6th Street Bridge Underpass? Tell us here.

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