MILITARY

Federal, state, city jurisdictions work as team for Navy’s Bay Bridge Run/Walk

By MICHELLE DELANEY

On May 15, the Navy will

host its 35th Bay Bridge Run/Walk. The annual run/walk is along a 4-mile route that allows participants to cross the San Diego-Coronado Bridge on foot to take in the panoramic views at a slower pace.

Highway Patrol as the likely facilitators, but there are quite a few more agencies involved in the logistics. The course for the Bay Bridge Run/Walk covers only 4 miles but has more than double that number of agencies with jurisdictional oversight.

The event, which starts in San Diego between the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel and San Diego Convention Center and ends at Tidelands Park, is the Navy Region Southwest’s largest public event and an exercise in government teamwork. The event usually draws 10,000 runners and walkers.

The city of San Diego has authority for the start of the race by the convention center. From there to the beginning of the Coronado Bridge, the city works in conjunction with its police and fire departments, as well as the Metropolitan Transit System.

You might envision the cities of San Diego and Coronado, plus the California

One major piece of the logistics, according to event coordinator Kim Hansen, is the timing of all participants with the trolley schedule.

Diego and MTS are all involved in getting the runners and walkers cleared of the trolley at the Barrio Logan stop near Cesar E. Chavez Parkway and Harbor Drive. And they must ensure all participants are on the bridge by 8:45 a.m. so the city can reopen the streets to traffic. Once on the bridge, the California Department of Transportation takes

over jurisdiction and is primarily responsible for traffic control. Caltrans will be on the bridge at 3 a.m. May 15 to create safety lanes for participants. During the event, corpsmen from Naval Medical Center San Diego are on hand for whatever emergencies may arise. At the end of the bridge, the city of Coronado has jurisdiction to Tidelands Park. Then the San Diego Unified Port District (which is one of the event’s three presenting sponsors) takes over. All these agencies, as well as others such as FBI and the

“Ultimately, we cannot mess with the trolley schedule,” said Hansen, who is coordinating the event for the Navy Morale Welfare and Recreation Program. Morale Welfare and Recreation, the city of San

Runners head to Tidelands Park, which is the end point of the 4-mle run.

Department of Homeland Security, coordinate with Morale Welfare and Recreation to ensure that the event runs safely and smoothly. There are other facilitators for the event: Road Runner Sports in Kearny Mesa will host a registration packet pick-up the day before on May 14, and the Coronado Ferry will offer free rides to participants with registration. (Free bus service is also available between Coronado and San Diego before and after the event.) About 400 volunteers work the event to ensure things run smoothly and everything from water bottles to bananas to chairs get to their

What: 35th annual Navy Bay Bridge Run/Walk

Where: starting line at Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Blvd., San Diego; finishing line at Tidelands Park, Coronado

When: 8 a.m. May 15Admission: $32 to $55 per person

Information: (619) 554-8117 or navybaybridgerun.com

proper destinations. A water station and a mariachi band will be waiting for participants at Chicano Park in San Diego. Musicians will provide entertainment at each mile marker

except for the 2-mile mark at the top of the bridge.

The finish line celebration at Tidelands Park “incorporates all the Navy’s assets with the local community,” Hansen said. Along with refreshments, music and awards, there will be a definite “military feel,” she said, with a helicopter flyover, a Navy jazz band and a triad of leadership from Naval Base Coronado in attendance.

lanes and golf courses, as well as child care centers, food and beverage facilities and more.

“We are a group of Navy and DOD [Department of Defense] employees who do this for our sailors; it is a great opportunity for the Navy to be a part of the community but also a great way for the community to support MWR in giving back to our sailors.” Hansen said, “The event is a massive undertaking by MWR, but it could not be as successful as it is without the enormous support of our sponsors and all of the agencies who partner with us.” ■

All proceeds will go to Morale Welfare and Recreation, which provides fitness and recreational opportunities at each of the five San Diego County Navy bases. The program operates fitness centers, swimming pools, movie theaters, bowling

Michelle Delaney is a freelance writer.