Laurel Street – Prado Bridge

Built: 1915

Type: Concrete

Local Number: 57-0215

Deck view looking east.
Deck view looking east.
Side view showing some of the arches and the freeway below.
Side view showing some of the arches and the freeway below.
Plaque designating the bridge as an engineering landmark.
Plaque designating the bridge as an engineering landmark.
"Love Locks" attached to the safety railing.
“Love Locks” attached to the safety railing.

Built as a part of the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition in Balboa Park, it stands today as a lasting monument to that era. The bridge was originally constructed over a small artificial lake which was later filled in to accommodate the US 395 Cabrillo Freeway (now State 163). An earlier planned expansion of the I-5 / State 163 would have had connector ramps passing through more of the arches. That plan has since been cancelled.

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