A pedestrian bridge built next to PETCO Park by San Diego's redevelopment agency opened for foot traffic Friday.
The Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge was built to allow walkers to safely cross Harbor Drive and the nearby train and trolley tracks at their intersection with Park Boulevard, and will enable easier access to the baseball stadium, according to the Centre City Development Corporation.
Construction of the bridge was required by the Public Utilities Commission after streets surrounding PETCO Park were reconfigured to accommodate the stadium, CCDC staff said. The bridge will also allow for work to begin on reconstructing a railroad crossing that connects Park Boulevard and Harbor Drive.
At 550 feet, the bridge is one of the longest self-anchored pedestrian suspension bridges in the world, according to the CCDC.
It was funded with $11.1 million from CCDC, along with additional contributions from Caltrans, the California Transportation Commission, the State Transportation Improvement Program, the Federal Highway Administration and private funding. The bridge's opening came amid Gov. Jerry Brown's push to eliminate local redevelopment agencies and divert their funds to debt payments, education, health care and the courts. Approval of the governor's plan fell one vote short in the state Assembly Wednesday, but Brown said he will continue to fight for it over the weekend.
