Cut bias bridge

The "Cut bias" bridge, an iron truss bridge built in 1888, was supposedly so-named because it crossed the San Lorenzo River at an angle. However, the Sanborn map detail at right shows that the "bias" angle was not large - possibly less than that of today's bridge. Riverside Hotel owners Alfred and Mary Ellen Barson gave the city some of the hotel's land for a right-of-way to build the approach to the northwest end of the bridge. That end was near the end of today's Riverside Avenue bridge, but its southeast end did not align with the continuation of Riverside Avenue, as the modern bridge does. The map also shows that the cut bias bridge was very narrow - pedestrians crossed at their own risk!

• History Pages: 50 - Beach Hill: 1870-99 (includes a photo of the bridge)
• Ross Eric Gibson, "Bridges Span Santa Cruz's Past", SCPL