One of San Diego's most scenic landmarks, the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge was dedicated in July 1969. While a bridge from San Diego to Coronado had been recommended in 1926, it took almost forty years before construction would begin. Until the bridge opened, the only ways onto the island were by ferry (expensive) or by driving south to Imperial Beach and then back north along the silver strand, a trip of 25 miles which still takes an average of 45 minutes today. One major sticking point was the Naval presence in San Diego Bay. The felt that an earthquake or attack could cause the destroyed bridge to trap the Navy in the harbor. they also threatened to remove the fleet from the bay if the bridge were to be built. In the 1950's, the community of Coronado began to conduct studies on how to make a bridge feasible, and in 1964, the Navy supported the bridge if certain prerequisites were followed. Robert Mosher was the chief architect, and after 20,000 tons of steel, 94,000 cubic yards of concrete, 900,000 cubic yards of fill dredged from the bay, the bridge opened on August 3, 1969.

The obverse of the medal shows a span of the bridge over the bay with the Hotel del Coronado and San Diego skyline in the distance. The reverse shows the official seal to the cities of San Diego and Coronado.