Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge

The construction of the bridge, which is entirely in Arizona (the border with California runs parallel with it), was a major development for Yuma. For many years prior, the only way to cross was the river was to take a ferry, which had been operating for decades, or private boats. Yuma residents had been calling for a bridge to be built since the early 1900s. In early 1913, Arizona Congressman Representative Carl Hayden introduced a bill to Congress to allocate funding for the project. His main justification for it was to provide a way for those living on the Yuma Indian reservation to access the city. The next year, Arizona, California, and Imperial County (in California) agreed to contribute additional funds.

Construction began in 1914 and was finished in 1915. It would have been completed sooner but the engineers who designed it were based in Washington and did not design the correct foundation for the Colorado River. As a result, the foundation washed away two times before the steel contractor decided to use barges to build the bridge. It finally opened on May 22, 1915 to great fanfare. A two-day celebration was held with numerous speeches, car races, concerts, and other activities.

In 1926, U.S. Highway 80 was established, which essentially followed the Dixie Overland Trail and several other highways. The bridge was a vital part of U.S. 80 for many years. In the 1930s, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl compelled many people—who were nicknamed "Okies" since a large number of them were from Oklahoma—to move to California. However, California police strictly controlled who entered the state. With nowhere to go, many stayed in Yuma, finding work as farmers or laborers.

After the I-8 and 4th Avenue bridges were built in the early 1970s, the importance of the Ocean-to-Ocean bridge decreased. It was eventually closed to vehicular traffic in 1988 due to structural problems. It was restored in 2001 and reopened to people and cars on February 29, 2002. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. 

Baker, T. Lindsay. "Ocean to Ocean" Highway Bridge." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. September 11, 1979. https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/79000431.pdf.

Elliot, Steve. "Flashback Friday: The day Yuma's Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge opened to traffic." Arizona Department of Transportation. May 24, 2019. https://azdot.gov/adot-blog/flashback-friday-day-yumas-ocean-ocean-bridge-opened-traffic.

McDaniel, Chris. "Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge critical link between shores." Yuma Sun. May 29, 2011. https://www.yumasun.com/ocean-to-ocean-bridge-critical-link-between-shores/article_fa9d146f-f725-53cf-bce4-a99a45908e7c.html.

"Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge." Visit Yuma. Accessed September 17, 2020. https://www.visityuma.com/destination/ocean-to-ocean-bridge.

"Ocean-to-Ocean Highway Bridge - Constructed - 1915 & Rededicated - 2002." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed September 17, 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=46786.