SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - The University of California San Diego celebrated Thursday the ribbon cutting of the new Gilman Bridge, connecting the east and west sides of campus.
The highly anticipated bridge sits over Interstate 5, uniting Gilman Drive and Medical Center Drive.
“It takes a lot of time for students and faculty and staff to go all the way around campus to have to use La Jolla Village Drive and Voight Drive,” said Christina Mannion, a project manager at UC San Diego. “This is a key connector that’s going to help us transform the campus for future construction as well.”
The bridge project officially kicked off in 2011 and construction began approximately two years ago. The university sponsored the project in conjunction with SANDAG.
Some students and faculty say they’re thrilled to have a more convenient way to get to and from campus.
The bridge is one of many regional transportation project, including the UCSD Blue Trolley, and the I-5/Genesee Interchange project, which widened the old six-lane overpass to a new 10-lane bridge.
All of the projects together are expected to ease traffic issues and parking demands in the area, as well as improve the air quality and connect UCSD with the greater San Diego community.
The bridge will officially open to traffic Friday.
