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710 Freeway Now Has Artwork On New Concrete Median Between PCH and 405
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Photo courtesy Caltrans | (July, 2002) -- LB's 710 freeway now has artwork -- 200 images of waves and various sealife -- adorning a new concrete median between PCH and the 405 freeway. |
| State and local officialdom gathered at Cesar Chavez Park this morning to celebrate what Caltrans called a first-of-its-kind L.A. County freeway arts project beautifying the gateway to LB, the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Photo, left to right: graphic artist Kerry Zarders (LB professional artist who created the designs), CA Senator Betty Karnette, LB Mayor Beverly O'Neill, Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, CA Business, Transportation and Housing Agency Secretary Maria Contreras-Sweet, LB Area Chamber of Commerce Pres/CEO Randy Gordon, LB Public Corp. for the Arts Bd. of Dir. President Lucy Daggett | Photo courtesy Caltrans |
Photo courtesy Caltrans | In a written release, Caltrans indicated it worked with LB City Hall and LB's "Public Corporation for the Arts" (PCA) to bring the project to fruition and used a design created by Ms. Zarders, who was hired by PCA to create the graphic designs. [Calls by LBReport.com to PCA seeking further information were not returned.] |
Caltrans hired a sandblasting firm to etch the artwork onto both directions of the new conrete 710 median between PCH and the 405 freeway. | Photo courtesy Caltrans |
Caltrans says this is a pilot project (a joint effort between Caltrans and the asphalt paving industry) and "marks the first large-scale use of asphalt, long-life pavement on a major California freeway. Use of this new product could reduce both construction time and maintenance costs." The agency says it plans to add art to transportation projects whenever possible.
The mural is part of a $16.7 million rebab of the 710 between PCH and the 405 now underway, which includes replacing metal medians with concrete barriers and widening the freeway shoulders.
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