Georgia Street Bridge-Caltrans Bridge
Also known as: 57c-418
Why it's listed
Completed in 1914, the Georgia Street Bridge carries two lanes of traffic and cantilevered sidewalks over University Avenue in San Diego, between the Uptown and North Park communities. Its deck rests on three parabolic reinforced concrete ribbed arches, hinged at the ends and mid-span, which also help hold back the tall concrete retaining walls of the University Avenue cut. Each wall runs about 680 feet and has a blind arcade of arches that echoes the bridge. City engineer James R. Comly designed it and Edward T. Hale built it. The project grew from a partnership between the City and the San Diego Electric Railway, whose streetcars passed beneath the bridge until 1949 and helped build up suburbs such as City Heights and North Park. The structure is valued as a fine early example of California reinforced concrete bridge building and as a monumental gateway. Alterations include filled-in railings, a gunite coating and missing lampposts, but it keeps its overall character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A as a cooperative public works project between the City and the San Diego Electric Railway that improved streetcar and automobile access and supported growth of eastern streetcar suburbs. It is significant under Criterion C as an example of early California reinforced concrete bridge construction designed by city engineer James R. Comly.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000158, listed February 12, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Georgia St. and University Ave., bet. Florida St. and Park Blvd., San Diego |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | February 12, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000158 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1914-1949 |
| Architect / builder | James R. Comly, C.E. (designer); Edward T. Hale (builder) |
| Architectural style | Three-hinged Reinforced Concrete Open Spandrel Arch Bridge; Reinforced Concrete Blind Arcade Retaining Wall and Railings |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a vehicular bridge and road with sidewalks; streetcar service ended in 1949 and the tracks were paved over. Railings were filled in and the surfaces were coated with gunite. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.74855, -117.14540 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000158.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5493451
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.