Golden Gate Bridge

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The Golden Gate Bridge was conceived in 1917 by engineer Joseph Baermann Strauss. Strauss faced 12 years of strong opposition to the idea of bridging the Golden Gate. Ferryboat operators feared for their livelihood, and military leaders and shippers were concerned that the bridge would bottle up the harbor. Strauss sold the public on the idea, and in 1930 six coastal counties approved bonds to build the Golden Gate Bridge.

Building began in 1933 with the North (Marin County) pier, which was built on solid rock just above the waterline. The pier was the subject of intense debate between geologists over the question whether the structure could withstand an earthquake. Strauss agreed to deepen the North Pier's foundation 100 feet below the surface and 35 feet into the bedrock.

The south pier was the most difficult part of the entire construction project. The pier was to be constructed 1,200 feet from the south shore where the water was over 100 feet deep. Divers reported zero visibility at this depth. Complicating matters were the tides which swirled in and out of the bay at 7 mph and breakers which could reach the level of 20 feet at times. On the bay bottom, rocks were blasted away and picked up by dredges in an effort to level the bottom.

Part of the problem of dealing with the rough water was solved by the construction of a 750 foot fender to ward off the waves and tidal action. Heavy steel boxes were bolted to the bottom by divers and subsequently filled with concrete until the pier rose 15 feet above the water. The fender itself became part of the foundation of the bridge. A pier was built inside the fender allowing workers access to the steel structure.

Each tower is composed of thousands of pieces of fabricated steel and rises to a height of 750 feet. The spectacular giant cables were spun into place from the anchorages in Marin and San Francisco. Both cables are 7,650 feet in length and 36 inches in diameter. Each cable is composed of 27,252 feet of pencil-thick wire.

The Golden Gate Bridge, built for a total cost of $33 million, was opened on May 27, 1937. The Golden Gate is a flexible bridge, capable of a 21 foot sway and a 10 foot sag. It can support the weight of trucks and cars jammed bumper to bumper in all six lanes, plus pedestrians on every inch of the walkway, even in gale winds.

The Golden Gate Bridge is the only toll bridge in California not under state jurisdiction. The bridge is operated and maintained by the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. Part of the $3.00 toll supports mass transportation modes, ferries and bus service, which help to reduce traffic on the bridge. For more information check out the Golden Gate Bridge website at http://www.goldengate.org/goldengate/. Clicking on this link will open a new browser window.