Cabrillo Bridge Reopens to Traffic

The historic bridge in Balboa Park was closed for months

San Diego's Cabrillo Bridge reopened to traffic Monday after a months-long closure due to construction.

The main artery between Mission Hills and the heart of Balboa Park was closed to vehicle traffic for five months while crews worked to retrofit the 100-year-old bridge.

Chante Barranco walks in the area several times a week.

She says there's nothing like driving across Balboa Park's iconic bridge that's also known as the Laurel Street Bridge.

"Now that it's summer it's good that we're able to have the full spectrum of Balboa Park open to everyone for all of the visitors too," Barranco said.

Still some visitors say anything but foot traffic would only cause damage down the road, eventually leading to another retrofitting in the future.

Former Bankers Hill resident Carrol Vicini said the bridge sans cars is more inviting to pedestrians and visitors.

"I like it closed off because you could walk more you're not battling the cars and the traffic that they usually have here," said Vicini.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and City Council President Todd Gloria were present for the ceremony and posed with some members of the construction crew.

The bridge was first built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. The $38 million project aimed to bring the Cabrillo Bridge up to earthquake standards and repave the road.

For more information on the Cabrillo Bridge retrofit and rehabilitation project, visit this website.

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