Building the San Francisco Bay Bridge

Keeping Commuters Safe At Any Cost The story of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Construction Project Why Was it Necessary to Renovate the Bay Bridge? It is fairly common knowledge that San Francisco is no stranger to earthquakes. The city is located close to the San Andreas Fault line, which constantly threatens to shake its foundation. This is exactly what happened in 1989 when a major earthquake caused significant damage. The damage caused to the bridge had major ramifications for the city and it's residents. Tragically, this event did cost the life of a motorist that was crossing the bridge. The closing of the bridge for repairs also had a major impact on the city's economy. approximately 250,000 commuters cross this bridge on any given workday Construction Begins on the Eastern Span The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is divided into 2 major spans. SF WEST SPAN YB Island EAST SPAN The western span has received The eastern span was home to what locals referto as the "dreaded S- curve". This notorious curve, which was a sharp-angled curve that led drivers into the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel, is a spot where many accidents have taken place over the years. This S-curve was one of the first things to go during the minor renovations and has generally been in better condition than the eastern span. renovation. The Long Journey that Led to a Beautiful and Safe Bridge In 2002, The Bay Bridge renovation began, and by 2013 it had become the most expensive public works project in the history of California. Good for motorists and safety, but bad for budgets! 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2013 One of the major reasons for the budget issues was that putting acceptable safety measures in place proved to be difficult. 300 FT The goal of the bridge project was to build a bridge that would remain stable even in the face of the next earthquake. One of the strategies architects used to strengthen the foundation was to install reinforced steel pilings The architects and construction crews faced many challenges, especially when many of the construction materials did not pass safety testing during earthquake simulations. 300 feet deep into the Bay floor. Enter the Stainless Steel Banding Another major challenge in the construction of the bridge was providing adequate support for the suspension. Cables were specially designed for this project, and each one includes 137 strands of banded steel to provide the additional necessary support. This is where stainless steel banding comes in. There are many places where banding was used to secure these heavy loads and provide the ultimate in strength and stability. DID YOU KNOW? Thanks to the hard work and dedication of countless architects, engineers, construction crews and suppliers, the new Bay Bridge has been successfully re-opened for commuters. And while the bridge cost more than anticipated, most people would agree that the city of Each steel suspension band on the new bridge contains roughly 48,000 LED bulbs, illuminating a veil of steel strands to drivers as they emerge from the tunnel onto the bridge. San Francisco was able to fulfill its promise of opening a beautiful and durable bridge. Source: CBS San Francisco