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Franklin Ave. Bridge looking west from bridge AKA. Shakespeare Bridge www.bridges-of-los-angeles-county.com |
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Franklin Ave. Bridge looking south from below http://www.youtube.com/user/bridgesoflosangeles |
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Construction Plans City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineer |
This bridge, the Franklin Ave Bridge, AKA the Shakespeare Bridge (due to its architecture) does not actually quite cross Monon Ave. Monon actually dead-ends at the base of the bridge. Since Monon does not actual pass under or any other street, the logic of building the bridge is a little obscure. However, there is a history that explains it. There is a natural spring where Monon and Tracy Street meet just west of John Marshall High School. This spring feed the Sacatela Creek. It was this creek that Franklin Bridge (and Sunset Bridge over Myra)crossed. Sometime in the late '20's or early thirties the spring was redirected into an underground storm drain, drying up the creek. The creek bed was then paved Monon Street and Myra Street) and built over (Thomas Starr King Middle School).
