Gold Line construction moving forward on schedule. First Avenue in Arcadia to open by the end of March. See hard copy VF "Railroads-Light Rail-Metro Gold Line."
Closure of Santa Anita Avenue today begins seven months of bridge construction in Arcadia. Crews will begin constructing a new bridge over Santa Anita Avenue at the railroad crossing in Arcadia, as part of the 11.5 mile Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project.
Gold Line construction extends closure of Colorado Boulevard for another three weeks, until the third week of May, due to underground utility work. See hard copy in VF Railroads-Light Rail-Gold Line.
A team of designers and builders (photo) from Kiewit Parsons firm working on the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension prepare to remove the existing railroad bridge on Colorado Boulevard between San Antonio Road and Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia. That section of Colorado Boulevard may close today. The portion of Colorado Boulevard west of North Santa Anita Avenue, is scheduled to be closed from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays through June 8, to remove the existing railroad bridge. Since the Colorado Boulevard bridge was once an old freight line bridge, it is not wide enough to accommodate light rail trains and tracks, and thus, will be demolished over the next 4 weeks.
Construction of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension bridge, that will span the 210 Freeway, has begun. Preparation of the giant column supports included drilling over 100 feet into the ground. The 584-foot Gold Line bridge will take shape by December. It replaces an old railroad bridge across the freeway, which was built about 1969 and torn down in 1997, said Gary Baker, director of construction for the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority. The bridge's design has been controversial, as some say it is not representative of the origins of the area. The entire bridge is slated to be finished summer 2012.
The proposed site for Arcadia's Gold Line station is just east of Santa Anita Avenue, at the First Avenue/Santa Clara intersection. City leaders want to separate the railroad tracks from the street.
Arcadia's new city government first formed in 1903 and its first meeting took place at Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin's Oakwood Hotel, located at First Avenue and Santa Clara Road. Baldwin's hotel featured gambling and fine dining along with city government. The Oakwood Hotel burned down in 1911, and the city government moved to the McCoy Building at First Avenue and St. Joseph Street. Two years later, City Hall moved across the street to the Hibbard Building. In 1917, the first building was constructed as a City Hall at Huntington Drive and Second Avenue (?). A two-story colonial building was built for $18,000. This City Hall opened on July 13, 1918. City Hall moved in 1949 to a 13-acre parcel between Huntington Drive and the Pacific Electric railroad tracks.
Tournament of Roses Queen Alexandra Wucetich and her court ride under the parade route in a Metro Gold Line tunnel. Metro Gold Line follows the same Atchison/Topeka Santa Fe Railroad right of way that has provided passengers and freight service for nearly 100 years. Arcadia's princess Anjali Agrawal is in a photo with her father Sudhir K. Agrawal.
Arcadia officials, fearing that Caltrans would squirm out of a promise to fix the earthquake damaged railroad bridge at 2nd Street and Huntington Drive, have asked the state to make that promise in writing.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency granted Stanley Gribble and Associates a 6-month exclusive right to negotiate with the city to develop a commercial project at the east end of the city between the railroad tracks on the south and west, Huntington on the north and 5th Avenue on the east.
The developer of Monrovia's Huntington Oaks shopping center now has an exclusive right to negotiate with the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency to construct a $17.3 million office and restaurant complex on the south side of Huntington Drive between the railroad tracks and the east boundary of the city.
The newly installed railroad crossing at First Avenue and Santa Clara Street was dedicated. To celebrate the occasion, the Goodyear blimp (Goodyear supplied the rubber crossing pads) hovered overhead. Arcadia is the first city in the Los Angeles area to install rubber crossings. The city is paying $93,000 of the nearly $200,000 cost of the project.
Plans for a series of office buildings and a high-rise hotel in the Arcadia redevelopment area require general plan and zone changes. The first move is an environmental impact report for the area bounded by the 210 Freeway on the north, the railroad tracks on the south, Fifth Avenue on the east and Second Avenue on the west.
Robert I. Melbo, former sports editor of the Arcadia Tribune, has advanced to become assistant superintendent of the Southern Pacific Railroad's Oregon division. Melbo's career is outlined.
Aerial view looking west from a position approximately over Santa Fe railroad tracks between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Street closest to camera is First Avenue, running north/south, and we see its intersection with Wheeler Avenue in lower left portion of photo. Almost vacant lot on northwest corner of Wheeler Avenue and First Avenue is where Sawmill Restaurant was built in about 1977 (Sawmill Restaurant closed in early 1990's). Foundation work on South side of Wheeler Avenue at corner of First Avenue is for medical building which became 65 N. First Avenue. (Former site of Arcadia Public Library until 1961.) Post Office is largest building in center of the block on north side of Wheeler Avenue. Large white area is parking area for Santa Anita Park Race Track.
View east on Huntington Drive mid-way in block between Santa Anita and First Avenue during holiday season. Notice the Arcadia sign that had for many years hung over intersection at First Avenue has been removed (also referred to as a "Welcome" sign). Santa Fe Railroad overpass in view crossing over Huntington Drive.
