Santa Monica Mayor Tony Vazquez welcomed the media and neighbors that had gathered at the top of the California Incline at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1.
“It gives me great pleasure to see so many people,” he said. “It took 17 months and $17 million to complete the incline. Ninety percent of the funding came from the Federal government—and it is open in time for Labor Day weekend.”
The initial Incline was built in 1930, but about two decades ago, it was determined it was structurally deficient. Plans to replace it were delayed, but finally in April 2015, the Incline was closed for replacement construction.
The first vehicle up the new Incline was a Big Blue Bus. Once it broke through the ribbon at the top of the hill, a group of cyclists riding Santa Monica’s Breeze Bike Share bikes, waved to the crowd and headed down the hill. One Santa Monica City official said they planned to use the bike path to gain access to the beach bike path and then continue to ride to city hall to begin their work day.
Pedestrians, skateboarders and bike riders were allowed on the Incline roadway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first vehicles went up/down the Incline at 5 p.m.
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