Senator Bradford Secures Funding Necessary to Repair Artesia Bridge

SACRAMENTO – Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) successfully secured $12 million of funding in California’s 2022-2023 budget, which will be used to repair the Artesia Bridge in the City of Compton. The bridge has been closed off since December of 2020, after a fire rendered it unsafe to use.

“I am relieved to see these funds included in this year’s Budget Act,” said Senator Steven Bradford. “It is well past time for the Artesia Bridge be fixed and we knew that this issue required immediate action. Every day the repair is delayed leads to more traffic congestion, pollution, and lost revenue for our community. These funds will empower the City of Compton to finally begin the repair process and stop the hemorrhaging.”

“The lasting closure of this bridge has significantly impacted the residents, small businesses and surrounding region through major losses of revenue,” said Emma Sharif, Mayor for the City of Compton. “I want to express my gratitude to Senator Bradford for his leadership and tireless advocacy, which has resulted in significant funding to the City in order to repair the Artesia Bridge.”

The Artesia Boulevard Bridge was constructed in 1956 and serves as an important connection point between several major highways and thoroughfares, including State Route 91, Port of Long Beach, City of Compton, surrounding cities, and County of Los Angeles. The lasting closure of the bridge has significantly affected residents, small businesses and the surrounding region through major losses of revenue as well as constricted access to the goods and services beyond the bridge. The City of Compton estimates that while the bridge remains closed, businesses lose up to $400,000 per week.

The Artesia Bridge closure has forced commuters to utilize more dangerous road conditions that in turn has caused additional reported traffic incidents in the area. Poor transportation infrastructure leads to downstream costs that are ultimately passed on to drivers and residents, including increased gas consumption, greater emissions, unnecessary wear and tear on vehicles, and additional road maintenance on over-used streets.

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Senator Bradford is Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Safety and represents the Los Angeles County communities of Carson, Compton, Gardena, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lennox, San Pedro, Torrance, Watts, Willowbrook, and Wilmington.