Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a technical masterpiece that can only be described in superlative terms. When the bridge was completed in 1937 it was the world’s longest and tallest suspension bridge.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
But above all this masterly example of engineering is a magnificent monument set against a beautiful backdrop.
Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge started in 1933. The bridge, which was designed by engineer Joseph Strauss was built to connect San Francisco with Marin County across the 1600 meter (+5000ft) wide strait known as the Golden Gate which links the San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean.
Building the bridge
The construction of what was to become the world’s largest suspension bridge was a colossal task. At the time many people did not believe it was technically possible to span the Golden Gate. View from Marina district on the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
But despite the disbelief, opposition and the Great Depression, Joseph Strauss was able to find sufficient support and financial backing to go ahead with the project.
It would take thousands of workers, four years and 35 million dollars to complete the structure. On May 27, 1937 the Golden Gate Bridge was inaugurated by 18.000 people who walked across the bridge. The next day the bridge officially opened to motorized traffic. Today more than 120,000 cars cross the bridge each day.
Characteristics:
The bridge is 8,981 feet long (1.7 miles) and contains about 88,000 tons of steel.
The total weight of the bridge is 887,000 tons.
There are two towers that hold up the two steel cables anchoring the bridge. Also, there are approximately 80,000 miles of wire inside each of the two steel cables.
The towers stand 726 feet above the water and 500 feet above street level. They weigh 44,000 tons each and are 4,200 feet apart from each other.
The bridge is 90 feet wide. There are six driving lanes and two sidewalks. The width of the driving lanes is 62 feet between curbs and the sidewalks are 10 feet each. Street level is about 220 feet above the water.
The color is called “GGB International Orange.”
