A gasp escapes your lips. You’re standing before the Cabrillo Bridge a majestic structure soaring 120 feet above Cabrillo Canyon.
This isn’t just any bridge. It’s a piece of San Diego history. Built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition the Cabrillo Bridge was designed by Thomas B Hunter. His innovative multiple-arched cantilever design was a first for California.
Imagine the scene in 1914. Franklin D Roosevelt then Assistant Secretary of the Navy made the inaugural automobile crossing. The mayor Charles F O’Neill was with him. For the next two years automobile access was mostly for dignitaries. Roosevelt returned in 1935 this time as President. He crossed the bridge again for Balboa Park’s second exposition.
The bridge’s construction was quite a feat. One million board feet of wood mostly redwood were used for the concrete forms. The main span is 450 feet long. The seven arches are each 56 feet across. Fourteen hollow concrete pillars support them. The project cost $250000 which is over seven and a half million dollars today.
Sadly the bridge has also faced its challenges. Fires have threatened its existence. Redwood timbers used in the original construction smoldered in 1951 and again in 2004. Jackhammers and saws were used to create holes for firefighters to pump in water and foam. You can still see the repaired holes today. These fires led to major renovations in 2014 and 2015 costing approximately 23.3 million dollars.
Another tragedy was the number of suicides. By 1931 seventeen people had jumped from the bridge. After several more incidents wrought iron fencing was installed in 1950. The suicides only really stopped with the building of the Coronado Bridge.
Today the Cabrillo Bridge continues to connect Balboa Park and the Uptown area. It serves as a testament to San Diego’s history its resilience and its enduring spirit. Take a moment to appreciate this impressive bridge. Its story is one of innovation tragedy and triumph. A story that’s as timeless as the structure itself.