A piece of Big Bear history began disappearing this week, as construction workers began dismantling the old bridge across the top of the Big Bear Lake dam. For the last 87 years this bridge has connected Highway 18 with south shore road along the lake, which gave motorists with a direct route to the Big Bear Village instead of having to drive all the way around lake.

The dam that this bridge sits on was built in 1912, by John Eastwood.  The bridge across the top was added twenty two years later in 1924.  In 2011, a newly constructed modern overpass just west of the dam now replaces this old piece of history.

A nostalgic moment as workers begin dismantling the south end of the old bridge on the Big Bear Lake dam. August 26, 2011. - © Rick Keppler.

In May 2010, the old bridge across the Big Bear Lake dam is still serving motorists as it watches the construction progress of the new bridge to the west that will eventually replace it. - © Rick Keppler

The newly constructed bridge across the top of the Big Bear Lake dam when it was first opened to the public in 1924. - Rick Keppler collection.

Note:  This post contains material from the Channel-6’s The Big Bear History Show. The copyrighted information in this article have been presented here with permission from Rick Keppler and Bear Valley Broadcasting.