Coronado Bridge

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Coronado Bridge links San Diego, CA to Coronado Island. This picture was taken from Tidelands Park Beach.

Construction on the bridge began in February 1967; it was opened to traffic on August 3, 1969, during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of San Diego.

It is notable among the world's great bridges for the number and size of its 30 concrete towers. They were designed with a curved cap to echo the mission arch shape, associated historically with regional architecture.

The towers rest on 487 prestressed reinforced concrete piles. The piles, 54 inches in diameter and with walls 5 inches thick, were driven and jetted into the sand and clay of the bay bottom up to lengths of 100 feet. The mud was removed from inside the piles which were then filled with concrete. Clusters of up to 44 piles were used under some towers.

The 90-degree turn mid-span serves to make the bridge long enough to achieve a 4.67 percent grade, allowing the bridge enough height (200 feet) to clear an empty aircraft carrier. This 2,850-foot section is the longest in the U.S. using curved steel plate girders.

The entire length of the bridge is 11,288 feet (including approaches), and the Channel Span is 1,880 feet wide.

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