The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of
the San Francisco Bay onto the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and State
Route 1, it connects the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco
Peninsula to Marin County.
The Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspension bridge span in the world (4,200 foot)
when it was completed in 1937 and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San
Francisco and California.
Despite its red appearance, the colour of the bridge is officially an orange vermilion
called international orange. The colour was selected by consulting architect Irving Morrow
because it blends well with the natural surroundings yet enhances the bridge's visibility
in fog.
The bridge's two towers rise 746 feet making them 191 feet taller than the Washington
Monument. The five lane bridge crosses Golden Gate Strait which is about 400 feet, or 130
meters, deep. The bridge consists of two towers of 746 feet this makes it 191 feet higher
than the Washington Monument. The five lanes of the Golden Gate Bridge are about 400 feet
or 130 meters deep.
The towers that support the Golden Gate Bridge's suspension cables are smaller at the top
than at the base, emphasizing the tower height of 500 feet above the roadway Coit Tower is
another San Francisco landmark with an Art Deco design.
Linking San Francisco with Marin County the Golden Gate Bridge is a 1.7 mile-long suspension
bridge that can be crossed by car, on bicycles or on foot. On an average day 118,000 vehicles
cross the bridge. The bridge has six total lanes of vehicle traffic, and walkways on both sides
of the bridge.
The speed limit on the Golden Gate Bridge was reduced from 55 mph (89 km/h) to 45 mph (72 km/h)
on 1 October 1983. The eastern walkway is for pedestrians and bicycles during the weekdays and
during daylight hours only, and the western walkway is open to bicyclists on weekday afternoons,
weekends, and holidays.
It united three Boroughs of New York: Manhattan, the Bronx, and Queens. It remains the largest
vertical-lift bridge in the world. It joins three giant bridges into one and consists of 13,500
feet of elevated viaduct and fourteen miles of roadway, all travelling over Randall's and Ward's
Islands. Since its completion, the span length has been surpassed by eight other bridges. It still
has the second longest suspension bridge main span in the United States, after the Verrazano
Narrows Bridge in New York City.
History
The idea to cross the Golden Gate strait was originated as early as 1872 by a railroad magnate.
Not until 1916 was a serious attempt made to make the crossing. Bridge designer Joseph Strauss
felt he could cross the Gate with a huge suspension bridge and do it for under $30 million dollars.
In 1921, Strauss finalized a plan and set out to convince San Francisco citizens and leaders that
it could, and should, be done. In 1919 the visionary engineer, Joseph B. Strauss, came to San
Francisco to inspect the bridge site. He was convinced he could build a bridge spanning the Golden
Gate.
In November 1930, a major hurdle was overcome; six Northern California counties, including Marin
and San Francisco, voted in favour of a $35 million bond measure to finance the construction of
the bridge. To celebrate this important victory, every store in Marin County closed at 3 p.m. on
November 12, so that the entire community could attend a football game in San Rafael and watch an
air circus. The evening culminated with a parade, illuminated floats & fireworks.
Golden Gate Bridge construction commenced on January 5, 1933 and lasted four and a half years.
The resulting structure, renowned for the simplicity and elegance of its design, has become emblematic
of the San Francisco Bay Area and has achieved fame worldwide.
On May 27, 1937, the bridge opened to pedestrians with much fanfare. Enthusiastic crowds picnicked
on the middle of bridge and there was a great procession at mid-day with 20,000 marchers and floats
representing every county in the bridge district.
The GGB opened to vehicular traffic on May 28, 1937 at twelve o'clock noon, ahead of schedule and
under budget, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in the White House announcing
the event The Marin Headlands side of San Francisco's GGB is a great place to take pictures such as
this July 4th fireworks photo and watch freighters and sailboats cruise under the bridge.
The bridge required so much concrete that cement factories throughout the Eastern United States that
closed as a result of the Great Depression were re-opened just to make the concrete for the bridge.
To make the wood for the forms that held the concrete, whole forests were cut down in Oregon.
5,000 men at a time worked directly on the bridge. These men were only the ones actually put the bridge
together; tens of thousands more worked to prepare the materials that made up the bridge. Completing the
bridge took 31 million work-hours, in 134 cities, across 20 states. In the middle of the Depression this
project was so huge that it alone buoyed the economy of the whole country.
The year 2007 marks the 70th birthday of possibly the most beautiful, and certainly the most photographed,
bridge in the world. San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, named for the strait leading from the Pacific Ocean
to the San Francisco Bay, spans tidal currents, ocean waves, and battering winds to connect The City by the
Bay with the Redwood Empire to the north.
Millions of visitors come to the bridge each year. The speed limit of the bridge is now only 45 miles per
hour and traffic fines have been doubled for the bridge. A $3 fee is collected for southbound traffic and
tourists who want to ride their bikes across the bridge can take advantage of the 10-foot wide sidewalks.