Roughly nine months after breaking ground in Atwater Village, construction is complete for a $4-million pedestrian bridge across the Los Angeles River.

The Red Car Bridge, which is part of the larger Glendale-Hyperion Bridge complex, connects Atwater Village with Silver Lake and Griffith Park on the opposite side of the river.  The project is named in honor of the Pacific Electric Railway - commonly referred to as the "Red Cars" - and reuses five concrete piers that once supported train tracks for the Glendale-Burbank Line.

While the 430-foot metal structure will be exclusively for the use of pedestrians and cyclists, the adjoining Glendale-Hyperion Bridge will continue to shepherd vehicles over the river.  The bridge - which is slated to undergo a $62-million seismic retrofit - will also include bicycle lanes and sidewalks, but to the chagrin of bicycle advocates, will not reduce the number of traffic lanes due to Caltrans regulations.

The Red Car Bridge joins a handful of other pedestrian crossings now taking shape along the river in Northeast Los Angeles, such as a $16.1-million structure slated to open near Atwater Park this year, as well as a $19-million bridge which will connect Frogtown with the Taylor Yard.

The largest river crossing currently under construction is the new Sixth Street Viaduct, which in addition to accommodating cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians, will also bring 12 acres of new park space to Boyle Heights and the Arts District.