Art meets safety on the 25th Street Bridge that spans SR 94 between the Golden Hill and Sherman Heights communities in San Diego.

An engaging melody now follows pedestrians as they walk along the new sidewalk that is separated from traffic with a fence that features a unique "song rail." The song rail is installed in the fence and plays a tune when the bars are tapped as pedestrian strolls along the bridge.

The "Crab Carillon" tune was written just for the bridge project by award-winning local composer and musician Joseph Waters, who also is a music instructor at San Diego State University. The tune plays the same whether you walk north or south along the bridge. The instrument was created by local sculptor and installation artist Roman de Salvo.

The Golden Hill Community Development Corporation received a $200,000 grant from SANDAG for the pedestrian safety improvements and secured a $39,000 grant from the City of San Diego Arts and Culture program for the song rail.

"The Golden Hill Community Development Corporation addressed a critical safety need for school children and pedestrians who cross the bridge," said Gary Gallegos, SANDAG executive director. "We applaud the community's efforts to add public art to the project with the additional funding from the City of San Diego Arts and Culture program."

The pedestrian improvements on the 25th Street Bridge were funded as part of SANDAG's Walkable Communities Demonstration Program. Six other innovative projects are underway in El Cajon, Encinitas, Oceanside, San Marcos, and the communities of North Park, Golden Hill, and Clairemont in the City of San Diego. For more information, see www.sandag.org/walk.

Project Manager: Rob Rundle
(619) 595-5649