Since the early 1920s, the citizens of Coronado and San Diego have been discussing a way to span the San Diego Bay. After nine different failed bridge and tunnel proposals through the years, the building boom of the 1960s helped bring the bridge to reality. August 2, 1969 the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge was dedicated and at midnight opened to traffic. The City of Coronado will be celebrating the bridge’s 40th anniversary with an event held Wednesday, June 10, at 7pm in the Nautilus Room of the Coronado Community Center. Mayor Casey Tanaka will make the opening presentations and school representatives will be present to showcase various art and media projects the students have been working on dedicated to the bridge.
The evening will continue with a premier of the documentary “The San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge” by local producers Patrice Makovic and Arturo Sbicca of Village Videography. The documentary explores the early attempts to span the bay, the bridge debate, the construction and the 1969 inauguration. Also included is the creation of Chicano Park beneath the bridge landing, a glimpse into the bridge’s intense maintenance program and reflections on the iconic monument today. Mayor Tanaka will present an honorary award to Robert Mosher, the Architectural Design Consultant for the bridge project and the evening will conclude with an Italian “Rinfresco” graciously offered by Vigiluccis Restaurant Group. The evening event is open (free) to the public and all are encouraged to come celebrate and learn more about our local history.
