Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge – Its Rich History and Building for the Future
August 10, 2020
Source: San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum website.
Since opening to the public in 1934, the Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge has been an iconic structure, bridging communities to the north and south and serving as a vital link for residents, visitors, and businesses. The community, like the bridge, has seen a great deal of change over the past 85 years. There are undoubtedly countless stories of the people, generations of families, businesses, and community fixtures that have evolved through history just like the bridge that has connected them.
Today, the bridge is showing its age and is in need of desperate improvement. In the past 15 years, the bridge has been closed to traffic twice for critical repairs. And, although it remains open to passenger cars and people walking and biking across the bridge, buses and trailer trucks are no longer permitted to use it. To ensure safety and modernize the bridge itself, SBCTA and Caltrans will begin work to rebuild the bridge in late-2020. The bridge will be taken down and completely rebuilt – a process that will span approximately three years.
As we continue to prepare for closing the bridge, our team is ramping up its efforts to keep the community informed of construction activity and detour routes. Integral to our efforts is a commitment to honor and celebrate the history of the bridge and to focus on the people and families that have used this bridge for generations. If you would like to share a story about the bridge or if you have questions about construction and detours, let us know at info@gosbcta.com.
