Rename the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge?

With the 100th anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s birthday (February 6) days away, I am launching a proposal to rename the San Diego–Coronado Bay Bridge in honor of the 40th president of the United States.

I have gathered more than 200 petition signatures in support of renaming the span Ronald Reagan–Coronado Memorial Bridge. I intend to gather more than 1000 signatures during the next few weeks on the Reagan Memorial Bridge website (www.ronaldreaganbridge.com) and present them to elected officials shortly after the beginning of the Reagan Centennial Celebration (a yearlong series of programs and events sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation).

Throughout his life, Ronald Reagan had a special bond with San Diego, and he connected with thousands of local residents during his three decades of public service. Research completed this year found that Ronald Reagan’s ties to the San Diego region extended beyond his presidency:

On August 1969, then-governor Reagan gave the dedication speech for the San Diego–Coronado Bay Bridge. Reagan was also a frequent visitor to the Hotel Del Coronado during his terms as governor and president. He held events at the hotel, including a meeting with the president of Mexico in 1986.