Historic Bridges in San Diego

Ever wondered what the local history was in your own backyard? I recently discovered the Sweetwater Bridge, located between Highway 94 and Campo Road in Rancho San Diego and began to wonder what other history serves San Diego Count as far as local historic bridges go. Here's a little about what I found. 

Sweetwater Bridge: 

Built in 1929, the Sweetwater Bridge holds history for both Jamul and the small Rancho San Diego town. 

In the early 1900's, San Diego was subject to historic rain droughts (we could use some of that right now!). The city of San Diego realized that there needed be a bridge set in place so that locals could cross the bridge without trouble. The steel bridge was designed in 1928 by Pacific Steel Co, and built shortly after in 1929. It is one of the only three state highway "truss" bridges in San Diego County, and is the only Parker Truss style bridge in San Diego. This particular design has an arch with a triangular framework of metal beams, and has three spans, each 150" long. The entire bridge is 460" long. 

The Sweetwater Bridge has an old romance feel to it, and many couples in the area have been known to take engagement and wedding photos on the bridge. It is no longer used for cars, as there is another concrete bridge built adjacent to it that is used today for cars to get over the river. Trails run underneath and around the bridge, varying from easy to difficult for hikers. 

Coronado Bridge:

Probably one of the most well-known historic bridges in San Diego, the Coronado Bridge spans 2.12 miles above the San Diego harbor. It connects Downtown San Diego to Coronado Island. 

Built in 1969, the bridge stands 200 feet above the harbor to allow ship traffic to cruise beneath it. It uses the world's longest box girder to conceal the usually visible braces, joints, and stiffeners. 

Cabrillo Bridge: 

The Cabrillo bridge is one of the most dramatic bridges in San Diego, beginning it's entry point at Balboa Parks Prado and continues onto Laurel Street. It was built for the Panama-California Exposition in 1915 and designed by San Francisco Architect Thomas B. Hunter. 

The bridge was originally built with wood framing for the concrete forms. Over the years, the bridge had a major rehabilitation to remove the wood after several fires inside of the pillars. 
Spruce Street Pedestrian Bridge:

Probably one of my favorite bridges in San Diego, the Spruce Street Pedestrian Bridge spans over Kate Sessions Canyon (in Bankers Hill). It was built in 1912 and designed by the mayor of San Diego, Edwin M. Capps.

It is one of the most unique bridges among San Diego due to it being a pedestrian bridge.  The bridge stretches itself 375 feet among treetops, anchored by steel suspension cables that are anchored to massive concrete piers hidden underneath the soil at both ends of the bridge. Because of the lightness of the bridge, it is nicknamed the “wiggly bridge” because of the way it sways to wind and walkers.

If you stand in the middle of the bridge, you have the perfect view of the downtown skyline. 

Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge:

The newest addition to historic bridges in San Diego, the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge spans over Harbor Drive at Park Blvd, directly adjacent to Petco Park and the Gaslamp.  Completed in 2011, it is 500 feet and is one of the longest self-anchored pedestrian suspension bridges in the US. It crosses over six lanes of traffic, a rail yard, and trolley tracks.

 It is suspended from a single 131 feet pylon set into the ground at a 60 degree angle.

Your Local Real Estate Expert,