Citation

Ney B. Calif. Transp. J. 2009; (3): 14-19.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, CalTrans Public Affairs Office)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article describes some of the construction and engineering feats accomplished so far at the halfway mark in the reconstruction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The bridge, damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, has been undergoing reconstruction for a number of years, while allowing traffic to continue to cross it. The west approach, a one-mile stretch of Interstate 80 in San Francisco, was demolished and rebuilt—often within inches of residential and commercial buildings. The two-mile-long east span is being completely rebuilt alongside the old span. When completed it will feature the world’s longest self-anchored suspension span. Traffic lanes of the east span will no longer include upper and lower ducks, but lanes instead will be parallel, providing motorists with expansive views of the bay. The article also describes how the construction project became the first to be posted on Google Earth for public viewing as the project moves toward completion.