Bridge Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Marks Official Opening of New SMC, Aerospace Corp Pedestrian Bridge

  • Published
  • By Alicia Garges
  • SMC Public Affairs
LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  For nearly 50 years, the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center and The Aerospace Corporation have been linked in a partnership to develop and acquire space systems for the U.S. military. Today, the two organizations are physically linked together with the opening of a new pedestrian bridge between Los Angeles Air Force Base and The Aerospace Corporation's El Segundo headquarters. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially mark the bridge's opening, Sept. 29. 

"The bridge not only links SMC and The Aerospace Corporation, but it is symbolic of our combined industry effort to acquire and deliver the world's finest space capabilities for the warfighter and our nation," said Lt. Gen. Tom Sheridan, SMC commander. 

"We first met on the SMC side of the bridge just eight short months ago for the groundbreaking," said Dr. Wanda Austin, The Aerospace Corporation's President and CEO. "It was a very memorable occasion because just as we were about to break ground, the skies erupted into a powerful rainstorm and we were all drenched, but our spirits were not dampened as we gathered to celebrate the cementing of this long-standing partnership between The Aerospace Corporation and the Space and Missile Systems Center." 

"This pedestrian bridge may not represent the scientific and technical virtuosity required to design, produce and launch a satellite - but it physically cements the longstanding link between two organizations that are central to our national security and the South Bay economy," said Congresswoman Jane Harman. 

"As we celebrate the opening of one bridge today, I encourage you to start work on another, she said, "a bridge to the American public - especially to our young people to share with them your passion for your work and inspire them to follow in your footsteps and beyond." 

Following remarks, El Segundo Mayor Kelly McDowell and Congresswoman Harman joined Lt. Gen. Sheridan and Dr. Austin in cutting the ribbon. 

Spanning El Segundo Boulevard, the bridge is 17-feet high and 135-feet long. It was fabricated off-site and moved into place. Seventy-five tons of steel, 47 cubic yards of concrete and nearly 11,000 pounds of glass was used in the bridge construction.

 

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