There have been several bridges at the site of the present-day Soquel Bridge. This location has served as an essential crossing point throughout the river’s history. In 1874 a covered bridge stood at this location and was one of three main crossings on the San Lorenzo River. When constructed the bridge was 800 feet long, and cost $15,000 to build. The covered portion made it one of California’s longest covered bridges at 530 feet.

In 1890 a trestle was added to the Soquel Bridge to accommodate a horse car on the east side. This was later converted to a trolley line. In 1921, the bridge was replaced with a concrete and steel girder bridge. This was widened to four lanes in 1967, and a four-span concrete I-girder bridge was constructed on the north side. The bridge has been continuously widened and reconstructed throughout the years to accommodate a growing population, and to improve the overall flood capacity of the San Lorenzo River.

The Christmas Flood of 1955

“The Christmas Flood of 1955” occurred on December 22, around 10:00 pm, and pushed water into downtown further than it had ever been. Water reached a depth of 10 feet on Pacific Avenue. Chaos ensued as people scrambled onto roof tops, telephone poles, and trees to wait through the night. Businesses were ruined, cattle were lost. Nine people died: two of them in their houses and the other 7 were swept out to sea. Personal accounts of Santa Cruz residents who remember this flood event can be found here.

To reclaim “wrecked areas”, several streets like Garfield and Eagle Streets were removed. San Lorenzo Park, Front Street shopping center and banks near the Veteran’s Memorial building were built.

Levee Construction

In September of 1955, Santa Cruz had been considering a “non-intrusive plan” for levee construction along the San Lorenzo River to regulate flow. Following the Christmas Flood of 1955, the Army Corps of Engineers took action swiftly and the project was made even larger. The riverbank vegetation was replaced with rock levees. The levee construction greatly altered the natural flow of the river. When it was completed in 1959, the public criticized the levee for turning the river into a drainage ditch. Santa Cruz residents have argued for more natural riverbank conditions ever since.

By the 1970s it was clear that the levees resulted in silt accumulation and decreased wildlife from the loss of riparian vegetation. These issues continue into the present day. Although parts of the river have been partially restored to include more vegetation, there is still little compared to the riparian habitat that once lined the San Lorenzo.

Flood of 1982

The flood of 1982 was devastating for the city of Santa Cruz and remains in the memories of many local residents. The flood began on January 4th when the river flooded over its banks and flowed towards the County Building. The next morning, a crack appeared in the Soquel Avenue Bridge. Soon after, the eastbound lanes collapsed taking with them telephone lines that connected the east and west sides of the river. During the flooding, 22 people died, the majority in the mountains when the heavy rainfall caused mudslides.

Take the Self-Guided Mobile Tour

This piece is part of the San Lorenzo River Tour by the Coastal Watershed Council. Download the free app with many tours of the Santa Cruz area and beyond.