[MetalliDragon]

It might be newsworthy, but the Coronado Bay Bridge in San Diego would be a harder target to take down than the three other bridges in California.

Reason being?

The Coronado Bay Bridge in San Diego is modular. You know how they have a naval base in that area? Well in order to get those large carriers out, they have to shut down traffic and dismantle the bridge. It essentially floats, so they can just disconnect a piece or two, tow them out of the way, and let the ship out. Float them back in, reconnect, and let traffic across once more.

Take out a section of the bridge, and traffic will probably be closed anyways. It's a toll bridge to begin with, so the traffic there won't be what everyone expects from rush hour on a bridge. If a bridge column is taken out, it might be a year or so before said column is rebuilt and replaced. In the mean time, it makes letting naval ships out easier because said bridge is already out of the way.

[rwfromkansas]

It would be a cinch with some small nuclear weapons.

[Beth]

I've seen the Coronado Bridge partially dismantled to allow for ship passage.

[stayout]

The Coronado Bridge does not have to be dismantled to allow carriers to pass. First of all, all the Navy's big carriers moor at North Island N.A.S., before you get to the Coronado Bridge. Second, the largest ships that do need to moor beyond the Coronado Bridge are the LHAs (i.e. Tarawa-class) amphibious assault carriers at 32nd Street N.A.S. They pass under the Coronado Bridge with no difficulty at all.

The Coronado Bridge indeed was built modularly (I saw it being built), but it is not disassembled for any ship.

[A Navy Vet]

"Well in order to get those large carriers out, they have to shut down traffic and dismantle the bridge. It essentially floats, so they can just disconnect a piece or two, tow them out of the way, and let the ship out."

What in the world are you talking about? The carriers are located on harbor mouth side of the bridge. They don't go anywhere near it. As for being modular and dismantled...gee, never saw that all the years I lived and worked there.

[rangerX]

They don't take the fleet carriers inside the bridge. They stay over at North Island. The LHAs, LHDs, and the rest of the fleet go inside the bridge. Modular bridge is fine if one moves it as planned. If one drops a couple spans via explosive, it becomes a navigation hazard. Could also cause significant loss of life depending on time of day. This bridge sometimes backs up to mid span because of the tools and rush hour traffic getting onto North Island.

[newzjunkey]

The Coronado Bay Bridge in San Diego is modular. You know how they have a naval base in that area? Well in order to get those large carriers out, they have to shut down traffic and dismantle the bridge. It essentially floats, so they can just disconnect a piece or two, tow them out of the way, and let the ship out. Float them back in, reconnect, and let traffic across once more.

That's bull. The carriers **NEVER** pass under the bridge. They dock at North Island--as do the LPH's--well short of the bridge.