7The 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.