The City Council voted down the two-lane bridge because of environmental and cost concerns about the Mission City Parkway Bridge, which would connect Fenton Parkway to Camino del Rio North. Representatives for H.G. Fenton Co., which owns the nearly 600,000-sf Fenton Marketplace and several nearby apartment communities, said the road is needed to improve traffic flow in the area and serve the shopping center, Qualcomm Stadium and recently builtmultifamily housing in the area.

Mayor Dick Murphy says the $10 million and the potential environmental impact on the river swayed his vote. Other council members said the project's benefits, such as reducing traffic in the highly congested area, didn't justify the costs.

In addition to Fenton Marketplace business owners and representatives, Ky Snyder, president of the San Diego Super Bowl Host Committee, lobbied for the roadway. Qualcomm Stadium will host the 2003 Super Bowl next Jan. 26.