Spruce Street Footbridge

The Banker's Hill area of San Diego contains a number of unique bridges, and the most noteworthy and popular of them all is the one that crosses Kate Sessions Canyon, or Arroyo Canyon as it was previously referred to. This is the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge, also known as the Spruce Street Footbridge or the "Wiggly Bridge." The span's appeal is the way it sways and bounces as one walks across it, making this a big hit with local children and visitors alike.

Originally constructed in 1912, the Spruce Street Footbridge was designed by engineer Edwin Capps to hold 2,186 people with an average weight of 150 pounds. Its purpose was to provide pedestrian passage across the deep canyon, which otherwise would have isolated developing neighborhoods to the east from new streetcar lines running along 4th and 5th avenues.

At a length of 375 feet, the bridge passes through heavy vegetation above the canyon floor. It is suspended from two steel cables that are anchored at either end by concrete piers. Many of the plantings below were put there by the famous horticulturist Kate Sessions herself.

The Spruce Street Footbridge is still the only steel suspension bridge of its type in San Diego County. It is located between Front and Brant streets at 250 West Spruce Street, San Diego, California 92103. To get there on foot, follow Spruce Street just west of 1st Avenue.