The Coronado Bridge Was Never Supposed to Be

The San Diego–Coronado Bridge was never supposed to be. For decades, the United States Navy fought to prevent a bridge from crossing San Diego Bay, fearing that a collapsed span could block the channel and trap ships inside one of the nation’s most important naval harbors. This documentary tells the history of the San Diego–Coronado Bridge, from the ferry system and early bridge proposals to the political fight that reached the Pentagon. We follow California Governor Pat Brown’s effort to overcome Navy opposition, the 200-foot clearance requirement that helped create the bridge’s long sweeping curve, and architect Robert Mosher’s work shaping one of Southern California’s most recognizable landmarks. We also look at the bridge’s construction, its 1969 opening, the end of tolls, its seismic retrofit, and the effect its approaches had on Barrio Logan. Beneath those approaches, the community’s fight for Chicano Park transformed the bridge’s concrete supports into one of the largest collections of Chicano murals in the country. FOOTAGE USED WITH PERMISSION A special thank-you to the following creators and organizations for allowing us to use their footage: Anik’s Travel Diary “San Diego Coronado Bridge in 4K Drone Shot” Over the Mountains, Drones and Tech “Coronado Bridge in San Diego, California – 4K Aerial Drone Footage” Air-Land Media “Coronado Bridge, San Diego” We are grateful to each of these creators for helping us show the Coronado Bridge from perspectives we could not have captured ourselves. All credited footage remains the property of its respective owner. ARCHIVAL RESEARCH Special thanks to Caltrans for the archival information, historical data, reports, photographs, and public records that helped us research and illustrate this story. CONTENT AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE Beyond the Exit makes every reasonable effort to use photographs, footage, documents, and other materials with permission or from properly licensed, Creative Commons, public-domain, government, and public-agency sources. Limited copyrighted material may also be included under fair use for commentary, criticism, education, research, historical discussion, and documentary reporting. All rights remain with their respective owners. The use of any material does not imply sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation. Rights holders with questions or concerns may contact us at: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) At Beyond the Exit, we believe the highway should be the hero of the story. Thank you for watching, sharing your own stories, and going beyond the exit with us. Subscribe and ride along with us:    / @bte4172   As always, thank you for watching, and God bless.