The San Diego Coronado Bridge, more commonly known as simply the “Coronado Bridge,” connects downtown San Diego and Coronado Island. The bridge was built in 1969, and is a stunning example of both architecture and engineering. It features a reversible lane, as well as an innovative “road zipper” system that allows cars to move across the bridge in either direction. The bridge also boasts a beautiful design, and is often described as one of the most beautiful in the world.
Before the Coronado Bridge was built, people who wanted to travel between San Diego and Coronado had to take a ferry boat. This was not very convenient, especially as car traffic was on the rise. In fact, a bridge was considered for over 83 years before it was finally constructed. On August 3, 1969, the bridge was opened to the public. President Ronald Reagan was on hand to help celebrate the opening of the bridge, and he even said that it was “the most beautiful in the entire world.”
The bridge itself is a steel and concrete structure, with the center span built like a hollow box. This was done in order to cut costs and give the bridge a sleek look. The bridge’s girders are made out of stainless steel, which is very strong but not as heavy as other metals. This was important, as the bridge would be crossing over a bay, where ships could get trapped in the event of an earthquake or attack.
