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Point Bonita Lighthouse Reopens To The Public

MARIN HEADLANDS (KCBS) – The Point Bonita Lighthouse in the Marin Headlands is back open to the public after the suspension bridge leading to the cliffs was rebuilt.

Maintenance Project Manager with the National Park Service David Dusterhoff said the bridge replacement project is a point of pride for the Coast Guard, the National Park Service, builders and volunteers.

KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:

"It allows the public continued access to the lighthouse in a safe manner," Dusterhoff said. "Before, it was a two-person limit. But now, the limit on the West Plaza is 49 people."

The path to the lighthouse has decayed several times over the years.

"The suspension bridge is a replica of the one we replaced," said Joel Dodd with Flatiron, the Benicia company that built the bridge. "It's got all new timber and metal, all new cables and it's designed for a 50-year life."

If you do make the trip, Al Greening of San Francisco might be your tour guide.

"It's great to see it finished. We haven't had visitors to the lighthouse for two years because of the condition of the old bridge," said Greening.

The lighthouse itself has been in service at the location since 1877.

It reopened to the public on Saturday and will now be open Saturday-Monday from 12:30-3:30.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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