Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Curse of the Georgia Street Bridge

Photographer can't stop shooting overdue rehab project — "I'm miserable."

Traffic goes right through the middle of the construction site.
Traffic goes right through the middle of the construction site.

Restoration of the 103-year-old Georgia Street Bridge began in August 2016 with a completion date of about now. Anyone driving past the site can't help but notice it doesn't look anywhere close to being done.

Traffic goes through the middle of the construction site.

The arched bridge is no stranger to delays. The restoration slated to begin in 2015 was delayed due to funding issues. In the 1990s, the powers-that-be were toying with demolishing the bridge. Public outcry led to historic designation in 1994 — designation that didn't put the kibosh on talks of demolition by the city.

René Vidales, chair of the North Park planning committee, said the city told him the project is at least eight months behind schedule. "I am not surprised of the delays, because we are talking about retrofitting structures that are over 100 years old. I say ‘structures’ because we are not just talking about the bridge, but also talking about the retaining walls that extend from Park Boulevard to Florida Street on both sides of University Avenue that are projects by themselves.

"While retrofitting existing structures, it’s not surprising they may encounter unexpected surprises that are causing delays, from soil conditions to drilling issues, plus we are already in the rainy season for a second time in this project."

Sponsored
Sponsored
Old streetcar track

One day on his way to work, Vidales saw old tracks that had been unearthed at the construction site. He took pictures and posted them on social media. He said they "started the conversation on how people feel about bringing back the streetcars."

When the project is completed (new deadline is spring 2018), Vidales said, “It will display its full glory just like when it was originally inaugurated in 1914, including the street lighting that’s been missing for decades."

Gregory May is at the Georgia Street Bridge every day taking photos.

Vidales pointed to the historic designation as the key to being able to qualify for $12 million in federal funding (total budget is $14 million).

Gregory May is a local who has been documenting the bridge's restoration since it broke ground last summer. He has taken thousands of photographs and some videos. Since he is there every day, I asked for his take on the delays.

"I talked to the main guy," said May. "The fact that the traffic goes right through the middle of their construction site, it causes them a lot of trouble. It's in the way all the time. They have to work around that traffic….

Workers went to lengths to save those three arches.

"The other thing that has made it take so long is the three arches inside the bridge. They had to save them to get federal funding. We aren't even going to see them when they're done. They'll be covered up with a new level of cement. I went there every night and filmed them cutting out little pieces to save those three arches. They should have just imploded the whole thing — that would have only taken a week. Instead it took weeks and weeks of work so they could say they were saving the bridge by saving those three arches. It's like the Coronado Bridge. They made it longer so they could get funding. It's the same kind of swindle."

The retaining walls on both sides of University Avenue greatly add to the project's size.

Some who have viewed May's photo documentation on social media have commented that it looks like a full demolition to them. May said the only thing left from the original bridge are those three arches.

"I have seen workers being told to redo things,” said May. “They seem to be on top of everything to make sure it's correct. Inspectors are there every day. It's going to be quality when it's finished. I've been there every day to see the painstaking attention to detail. Then I see the guy that's the boss, older guy, you can tell he's the one having panic attacks out there because everything rests on him. He doesn't have to get his hands dirty, but he's still out there."

Workers found an old spoon while doing the demolition.

May said he hasn't heard much complaining from nearby residents for a long time — not since the night work ceased once they were done with demolition.

Did May see crews uncover anything unexpected? "A spoon. When they were breaking the bridge apart, they found this old spoon and they gave it to me." May said he was also given several old railroad ties. "They found two sets of tracks [streetcar and railroad] when they lowered the road. The older track [railroad] had wood planks. I wanted a piece of the rail but it was too big, so they gave me eight or nine nails that tied to the wood planks."

I asked May how the workers take him being there every day taking photos and videos of them. "They are used to me being there. I'm having trouble with one rebar guy; he doesn't like his picture being taken and another guy is kind of bored with me being there."

Railroad tracks were also uncovered during the job.

May has his own issues with his documentary project. "If I knew how much this would absorb my life I wouldn't have started it. I'm miserable, but I can't just quit in the middle of it now. I go back every day — it's really a job now. I lost a couple of dog-walking jobs because I would miss this or that at the work site. It started as a casual thing but I got pulled in more and more as I became more aware of what they were doing. It's a curse now."

May said he would like to do something with all the images once the bridge is completed.

Documenting local history isn't new for May. His Vintage San Diego Facebook page showcases historic images of San Diego.

"What fuels me a little with this project is the idea of pictures that I've discovered that were taken 50 years ago. People have been kind enough to donate old slides and photos they find at estate sales."

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

SDSU pres gets highest pay raise in state over last 15 years

Union-Tribune still stiffing downtown San Diego landlord?
Next Article

Didja know I did the first American feature on Jimi Hendrix?

Richard Meltzer goes through the Germs, Blue Oyster Cult, Ray Charles, Elvis, Lavender Hill Mob
Traffic goes right through the middle of the construction site.
Traffic goes right through the middle of the construction site.

Restoration of the 103-year-old Georgia Street Bridge began in August 2016 with a completion date of about now. Anyone driving past the site can't help but notice it doesn't look anywhere close to being done.

Traffic goes through the middle of the construction site.

The arched bridge is no stranger to delays. The restoration slated to begin in 2015 was delayed due to funding issues. In the 1990s, the powers-that-be were toying with demolishing the bridge. Public outcry led to historic designation in 1994 — designation that didn't put the kibosh on talks of demolition by the city.

René Vidales, chair of the North Park planning committee, said the city told him the project is at least eight months behind schedule. "I am not surprised of the delays, because we are talking about retrofitting structures that are over 100 years old. I say ‘structures’ because we are not just talking about the bridge, but also talking about the retaining walls that extend from Park Boulevard to Florida Street on both sides of University Avenue that are projects by themselves.

"While retrofitting existing structures, it’s not surprising they may encounter unexpected surprises that are causing delays, from soil conditions to drilling issues, plus we are already in the rainy season for a second time in this project."

Sponsored
Sponsored
Old streetcar track

One day on his way to work, Vidales saw old tracks that had been unearthed at the construction site. He took pictures and posted them on social media. He said they "started the conversation on how people feel about bringing back the streetcars."

When the project is completed (new deadline is spring 2018), Vidales said, “It will display its full glory just like when it was originally inaugurated in 1914, including the street lighting that’s been missing for decades."

Gregory May is at the Georgia Street Bridge every day taking photos.

Vidales pointed to the historic designation as the key to being able to qualify for $12 million in federal funding (total budget is $14 million).

Gregory May is a local who has been documenting the bridge's restoration since it broke ground last summer. He has taken thousands of photographs and some videos. Since he is there every day, I asked for his take on the delays.

"I talked to the main guy," said May. "The fact that the traffic goes right through the middle of their construction site, it causes them a lot of trouble. It's in the way all the time. They have to work around that traffic….

Workers went to lengths to save those three arches.

"The other thing that has made it take so long is the three arches inside the bridge. They had to save them to get federal funding. We aren't even going to see them when they're done. They'll be covered up with a new level of cement. I went there every night and filmed them cutting out little pieces to save those three arches. They should have just imploded the whole thing — that would have only taken a week. Instead it took weeks and weeks of work so they could say they were saving the bridge by saving those three arches. It's like the Coronado Bridge. They made it longer so they could get funding. It's the same kind of swindle."

The retaining walls on both sides of University Avenue greatly add to the project's size.

Some who have viewed May's photo documentation on social media have commented that it looks like a full demolition to them. May said the only thing left from the original bridge are those three arches.

"I have seen workers being told to redo things,” said May. “They seem to be on top of everything to make sure it's correct. Inspectors are there every day. It's going to be quality when it's finished. I've been there every day to see the painstaking attention to detail. Then I see the guy that's the boss, older guy, you can tell he's the one having panic attacks out there because everything rests on him. He doesn't have to get his hands dirty, but he's still out there."

Workers found an old spoon while doing the demolition.

May said he hasn't heard much complaining from nearby residents for a long time — not since the night work ceased once they were done with demolition.

Did May see crews uncover anything unexpected? "A spoon. When they were breaking the bridge apart, they found this old spoon and they gave it to me." May said he was also given several old railroad ties. "They found two sets of tracks [streetcar and railroad] when they lowered the road. The older track [railroad] had wood planks. I wanted a piece of the rail but it was too big, so they gave me eight or nine nails that tied to the wood planks."

I asked May how the workers take him being there every day taking photos and videos of them. "They are used to me being there. I'm having trouble with one rebar guy; he doesn't like his picture being taken and another guy is kind of bored with me being there."

Railroad tracks were also uncovered during the job.

May has his own issues with his documentary project. "If I knew how much this would absorb my life I wouldn't have started it. I'm miserable, but I can't just quit in the middle of it now. I go back every day — it's really a job now. I lost a couple of dog-walking jobs because I would miss this or that at the work site. It started as a casual thing but I got pulled in more and more as I became more aware of what they were doing. It's a curse now."

May said he would like to do something with all the images once the bridge is completed.

Documenting local history isn't new for May. His Vintage San Diego Facebook page showcases historic images of San Diego.

"What fuels me a little with this project is the idea of pictures that I've discovered that were taken 50 years ago. People have been kind enough to donate old slides and photos they find at estate sales."

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Reader Music Issue short takes

Obervatory's mosh pit, frenetic Rafael Payare, Lemonhead chaos, bleedforthescene, Coronado Tasting Room
Next Article

How to Get Legal Assistance When Your Car Accident Insurance Claim is Denied?

Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.