Formerly the La Loma Bridge, John K Van De Kamp Bridge is the lesser known, smaller sister of the famous Colorado Street Bridge. They were built around the same time and have a similar Neoclassical design. Both are open spandrel concrete arch bridges that cross the Arroyo Seco. I still think of the bridge as the La Loma Bridge. Anyway, Van De Kamp Bridge isn't as busy as Colorado Street Bridge and it still provides lovely views of the Arroyo Seco and San Gabriel Mountains. The loveliest time to visit is sunset when the old-fashioned street lamps are aglow.
You can walk from the Rose Bowl to the Van De Kamp Bridge along the Arroyo Seco and keep going all the way to South Pasadena. Admire the bridge from below and then head back up to La Loma Rd. to walk across the bridge (it's very short). There are sidewalks on both sides.
La Loma Bridge was dedicated in 1914, one year after the Colorado Street Bridge, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The bridge was closed for renovation from 2015-2017 and renamed after former California Attorney General John Van De Kamp, who lived near the bridge. read more