Graffiti on SLO bridge is gone — just as mysteriously as it appeared

A concerned citizen is likely responsible for painting over unsightly graffiti on the Union Pacific bridge crossing Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo either late Wednesday or in the early hours of Thursday morning, police say.

About two weeks ago, a vandal spray-painted a large four-letter word on the side of the bridge facing southbound traffic near California Boulevard. The San Luis Obispo Police Department was working with Caltrans and Union Pacific Corp. to get it removed.

But progress was slow, and the city was not legally able to access the graffiti because it was on Union Pacific property.

But Thursday morning, San Luis Obispo police Lt. Bill Proll said it appears someone took matters into their own hands and painted over the graffiti — in a shade of gray similar enough to that of the bridge that the city is considering the case closed.

Proll said it was likely someone trespassed onto the Union Pacific property and leaned over the side with a paint roller. That’s extremely dangerous, he added, and the culprit risked not only falling but possibly dropping something on a car passing below.

However, police are not searching for a suspect.

“But the bottom line is, I’m glad it’s done,” Proll said. “It’s resolved.”

This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Graffiti on SLO bridge is gone — just as mysteriously as it appeared."