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Rosecrans Avenue Overpass

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In 1995 the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway installed the modern Rosecrans Avenue Overpass.  The current 300 feet long Polygonal Warren Through truss is the third railroad overpass structure to have been built at the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Aviation Boulevard.  The modern structure was proceeded by a 164.1-foot-long span built in 1964 which was a replacement for the original 1924-era overpass. 




An overview of the Rosecrans Avenue Overpass

The intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Aviation Boulevard (originally Redondo Road) lies at the boundaries of three cities.  The city of Hawthorne occupies the lands east of the intersection, El Segundo occupies the northwest corner and whereas Manhattan Beach is located at the southeast corner.  

Since 1924 the intersection Rosecrans Avenue and Redondo Road would be the location of a railroad overpass structure.  The original overpass was a 100-foot-long pony truss/plate girder design built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) in 1924.  The structure was part of a line which connected from El Segundo Junction southeast to the Wilmington area. 

The 1924-era ATSF Overpass can be seen crossing the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Redondo Road on the 1924 United States Geological Survey map of Inglewood. 


A station can be seen present at El Segundo Junction on the 1950 United States Geological Survey map of Venice.  Redondo Road can be seen renamed as "Aviation Boulevard."  Aviation Boulevard is a reference to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) which opened during October 1928. 


During 1964 the ATSF would install a then new Warren through truss overpass at the Rosecrans Avenue/Aviation Boulevard intersection.  The second span was 164.1 feet long and included a 158.1-foot-long main span.  

In 1993 the ATSF Overpass would be twinned when the Los Angeles Metropolitain Transportation Authority (MTA) Green Line Bridge would be constructed over the Rosecrans Avenue/Aviation Boulevard intersection.   Increasing amounts of automotive traffic on Rosecrans Avenue necessitated the widening of the roadway.  Such a widening was not possible with presence of the 1964-era ATSF Overpass. 

A 300 foot long Polygonal Warren through truss was designed by the ATSF.  The then new 760-ton overpass structure was constructed at the northwest abutment of the Rosecrans Avenue/Aviation Boulevard intersection.  The intersection was closed to automotive traffic on July 28, 1995, and the new overpass was rolled into place upon the installation of falsework.  The intersection would quickly reopen to traffic on July 31, 1995.  Following installation of the new overpass structure the ATSF would reverse the process to remove the 1964-era span. 

The ATSF would merge with the Burlington Northern Railroad in December 1996 to form the Burington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF).  The 1995-era Rosecrans Avenue/Aviation Boulevard Overpass was selected as a Prize Design by the National Steel Bridge Alliance and American Institute of Steel Construction during October 1996.  Judges commented on the installation procedure as being particularly innovative and unique. 




This view along westbound Rosecrans Avenue in Hawthorne faces towards the 1995-era ATSF Overpass.  The MTA Green Line Bridge is located immediately west of the ATSF Overpass. 


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