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Visit San Francisco Bridges

By John Feyd


There's no doubt that San Francisco bridges are examples of the most impressive and complicated bridges in the U. S.. Bridges in San Francisco are famous for many alternative reasons, if it is for their size or the mark they have made in history. Here's a few of the most unique and outstanding bridges that San Francisco has to show off.

Hayward Bridge

Originally referred to as the San Francisco Bay Toll Bridge, this bridge connects the San Francisco Bay with the East Bay. At 7 miles long, it is currently the longest bridge in the San Fran area and it ranks as amongst the top 25 longest bridges on the planet. The original bridge was built in 1929, the Hayward Bridge was only two lanes with a vertical lift span over the shipping channel. In 1967, the Hayward Bridge was remodeled from concrete trestle spans and steel girders.

Oakland Bay Bridge

The first of its kind, the Oakland Bay Bridge is basically two bridges and a tunnel that connect the eastern side of San Francisco and the west side of Oakland. The bridge was designed by Charles Purcell with construction starting in 1933 and opening in 1936. The first is a two spanned double-decker suspension bridge running 10,304 feet long and connecting Yerba Buena Island ti San Francisco. After leaving the Yerba Buena tunnel, a 10,176 foot cantilever bridge continues to the Oakland Bay.

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate bridge was designed by the famous architect and designer Joseph Strauss and was completed in 1937 setting the standard for future bridges. The total weight of the bridge is supported by two main cables, with each of the cables having 27,572 wires, equaling 80,000 miles of the thick cable wire. Most noticeable though is the orange paint that was used so the bridge would be visible to ships in the thick San Fran fog. The Golden Gate os also the first bridge that ever used a security-net for the safety of the bridge workers during construction.

Richmond San Rafael Bridge

This wonderful double-decker cantilever and truss bridge is 29,040 feet long and was opened for traffic in 1956. It is nick-named the "roller coaster" bridge and many consider it to be one of the sturdiest bridges ever built. Notwithstanding it having a clearance of 185 feet this bridge has been understood to be hit by ships but hasn't had to close for repairs due to it. Actually a navy radar vessel and a World War Two war ship collided with the bridge both on the same day.

Antioch Bridge

The initial Antioch Bridge was built in 1926 by Aven Hanford and Oscar Klatt, it was actually the first toll bridge over the San Francisco tributary. But from the the start it encountered problems, thanks to a design issue many ships collide into its narrow opening and in 1970 the lift span ceased to work. In 1978 a new steel plate girder bridge was assembled and is now called the Senator John A. Nejedly Bridge.




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