New Spiral Gateway Monument Welcomes Drivers to Placentia

Published: Nov 20, 2024

Contact: Christianne Smith

Phone: (424) 413-1104

PLACENTIA- Caltrans today proudly announces the successful installation of a new gateway monument for the City of Placentia, located at the Orangethorpe Avenue interchange on State Route 57 (SR-57). This landmark installation highlights a significant milestone in enhancing community identity and regional connectivity.

The $1.6 million project was made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom's Clean Californiainitiative - a $1.2 billion, multi-year effort led by Caltrans to remove trash, create thousands of jobs, and join with communities throughout the state to reclaim, transform, and beautify public spaces.

The large-scale art installation serves as a welcoming symbol for residents and visitors entering Placentia. Inspired by the circular motion of the highway ramps, artist Cliff Garten's 20-foot-by-20-foot sculpture features a vibrant polychromed spiral design that flows upward from the swirling landscape beneath, creating an image that continually changes from every commuter's vantage point. Garten's creation includes references to Placentia's history and social heritage, such as early 20th-century orange crate labels and local water and oil towers.

Experience the monument through this video tourand learn more about its significance.

"Clean California provided a unique and valuable opportunity for Caltrans to partner with the City of Placentia to clean up and beautify key entry points to the city," said Caltrans District 12 Director Lan Zhou. "I am thrilled to see this monument integrate art seamlessly with urban infrastructure. It underscores Caltrans' commitment to creating dynamic and engaging public spaces that foster long-lasting community connections."

The new gateway monument is part of Clean California's broader beautification efforts in Placentia, which include muralsby another local artist, Man One, at the SR-57 undercrossing abutment on West Crowther Avenue.

"We are grateful for this partnership with Caltrans and the positive impact (the Clean California Initiative) has brought to Placentia, with the gateway monument and landscaping highlighting a busy freeway exchange in the city, and the murals along the freeway underpass on Crowther Avenue creating an attractive entrance into the city's Transit-Oriented Development district," said Placentia Mayor Jeremy B. Yamaguchi.

The completion of Garten and Man One's public artworks marks significant additions to Orange County highways. Their work has transformed utilitarian spaces into striking city landmarks, attracting residents and visitors alike to experience the intersection of art and transportation infrastructure in a new light.

Since launching Clean California in July 2021, Caltrans and its local partners have picked up more than 2.6 million cubic yards of litter - enough to cover nine lanes of Interstate 5 with an inch of trash from San Diego to the Canadian border. This represents a substantial increase compared to the department's previous trash collection efforts and can largely be attributed to Clean California, along with other Caltrans litter removal efforts. Caltrans has hosted more than 500 free dump days in communities throughout the state - resulting in the collection of 12,000-plus mattresses and nearly 50,000 tires. The initiative has drawn more than 60,000 community clean-up volunteers and created more than 8,000 jobs, including positions for individuals who were formerly incarcerated, on probation, or experiencing housing insecurity.

In Orange County alone, Clean California has invested more than $60 million, including $15 million in local grant projects, $22 million in highway roadside improvement projects and $23 million toward litter collection efforts.

For more information about the Clean California Initiative, visit CleanCA.com, and to learn more about Clean California's impact in Orange County, visit dot.ca.gov/D12CleanCA.

Placentia's new gateway monument.

Placentia's new gateway monument at night.

Aerial view of the monument and its surrounding swirling landscape.