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LOS ANGELES (AP) ― What may have been the largest single piece of graffiti in the nation is getting wiped out in Los Angeles.

A contractor with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday began painting over the gigantic letters “MTA” on the concrete bank of the Los Angeles River in downtown.

Corps spokeswoman Jennie Ayala says the letters are 57 feet high and a third of a mile long.

The removal is part of an $837,000 project to erase graffiti from 100 miles of the flood control channel.

“MTA” stands for “Metro Transit Assassins” and authorities contend it was placed there by up to 40 taggers.

Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Koontz says 14 people were arrested earlier this year and trials are pending. He says they could be ordered to pay millions in restitution if convicted.

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VIA: CBS

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