U.S. 101 Amestoy Avenue Pedestrian Overcrossing and Louise Avenue Overcrossing Improvements Project
The Project
Located on U.S. Route 101 (U.S. 101) between Balboa Boulevard and White Oak Avenue in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, the project proposes safety and accessibility improvements to Amestoy Ave Pedestrian Overcrossing (POC) at postmile (PM) 19.50 and Louise Ave Overcrossing (OC) at PM 19.74.
Status
The project is currently in the environmental phase of development and programmed for construction in 2029/2030.
Updates
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Background
Both the Amestoy Avenue Pedestrian Overcrossing and the Louise Avenue Overcrossing were originally built in 1958 and have not received upgrades since. The bridge railings on each structure now require improvements to comply with current standards.
Louise Avenue Overcrossing
The Louise Avenue bridge is a two-lane overcrossing with a sidewalk that serves the north-south route. It is directly adjacent to a college preparatory school and provides access to Balboa Sports Center, as well as businesses along and near Burbank Boulevard and Ventura Boulevard
Inspections have identified a need to upgrade the bridge railings and ADA curb ramps to meet current standards. In addition, the project proposes installing Class II bike lanes, as well as decorative lighting to enhance the safety and visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists.
Amestoy Avenue Pedestrian Overcrossing
The pedestrian bridge at Amestoy Avenue is the only crossing point for U.S. 101 that can only be used by non-motorists within Encino. All other pedestrian crossing points are via sidewalks along street overpasses and underpasses. The nearest crossing points from the Amestoy bridge are about a quarter of a mile to the east at Balboa Boulevard and a quarter of a mile to the west at Louise Avenue.
The Amestoy Avenue bridge connects the north-south route between community facilities, such as the Balboa Sports Center, and the businesses and schools along and near Ventura Boulevard.
Since its construction in 1958, the Amestoy Avenue bridge has aged considerably and no longer meets certain standards. Aside from needing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades to the pedestrian ramps, the bridge railing and fencing have also rusted and are in need of replacement. In addition, certain aesthetic elements could be improved to better match the character of the surrounding community. Those could include upgrades to landscaping, lighting and fencing.
The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has expressed official support in favor of maintaining the pedestrian crossing at Amestoy Avenue. LADOT's Transportation Planning & Policy division conducted a connectivity analysis to measure the impacts of removing the pedestrian bridge, and found its removal would greatly impact connectivity to hundreds of jobs for thousands of Encino residents, as well as impacting access to one school. LADOT has recommended "maintaining the bridge to avoid disrupting connectivity and creating new inequity and safety issues."
Benefits
Louise Avenue Overcrossing
The purpose of this project is to upgrade the Louse Avenue Overcrossing bridge railing and sidewalk to meet current standards and ADA compliance, as well as to enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Proposed improvements include:
- Replacing existing bridge railings with standard chain link railing
- New ADA-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps
- Installing decorative pedestrian lighting to enhance safety and visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists
- Adding Class II bikeways on the northbound and southbound lanes of the overcrossing
Amestoy Avenue Overcrossing
There are multiple ways to increase the safety and beauty of the Amestoy Avenue facility. Some of the various features that Caltrans is proposing include:
- New ADA-compliant sidewalks and curb ramps
- Installing decorative pedestrian lighting along the bridge and bridge entrances to enhance safety
- Lighting along the bridge will be safely configured to avoid glare spots for motorists and residential areas
- Xeriscaping around bridge entrances. This type of landscaping includes installing drought-tolerant features, such as plants that require less irrigation than is typical. (e.g. succulents, cacti) This could also include replacing grass, dirt, and overgrown shrubs with decorative rocks.
- Replacing the existing chain link fencing with decorative fencing. This would include the fencing that surrounds the bridge as well as the fencing along the bridge railing.
Schedule
Fall/Winter 2029/2030
Project Materials
Louise Ave & Amestoy Ave Bridge Improvements 2025 Presentation