Repaving 3rd Street near Figueroa, Los Angeles (1944) 3rd Street near Figueroa was undergoing repaving, a typical sight in Los Angeles during its post-war urban expansion. The repaving effort was part of a broader city initiative to modernize infrastructure to accommodate the growing population and increased automobile traffic. Los Angeles, in the 1940s, was becoming increasingly reliant on cars, and streets like 3rd Street were seeing more traffic than ever before. The photograph captures workers and machinery at work, transforming the city’s streets to keep up with the changing demands of its residents. This period was marked by rapid growth, with new development projects popping up all over the city as World War II ended and civilian life resumed.