Main Cable Photo Page

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The Golden Gate Bridge has two main cables. Each is 7,650 feet long and contains 27,572 galvanized wires which are bundled into 61 strands. The total length of wire used in both main cables is 80,000 miles.

Photos:  Original Construction |  Main Cable  |  Main Cable Painting

Original Construction Photos

 

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The first step in the main cable construction was the erection of a “footwalk” which was suspended directly under where the main cables would be then be spun.
     
 

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Transferring wire from one spinning cable carriage to the other at the center of the main span.

Cable formers, with vertical separators, kept the wire strands in vertical rows.

  
 

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These pictures show the hydraulic jacks of the cable compacting machine that was used

to compact the main cables into a circular shape. The main cable bands are made up

of two pieces of cast steel. The upper left photo shows one half of a cable band being lowered

onto the main cable. After the top half the cable band is lowered onto the main cable,

it is rotated about 90 degrees. The two cable band pieces are rotated so that the gaps

between the two pieces are on the top and the bottom of the cable band,

then the halves are connected with long bolts, called cable band bolts,

as shown in lower right photo.
     
 

Main Cable Photos

 
 

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Golden Gate Bridge main cable photos.
 

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Main cable undergoes inspection in 1998.
     

Main Cable Painting Project Photos

 

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Scaffolding delivered for the Main Cable Painting Project, February 22, 2011

     

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Scaffolding assembly begins, February 23, 2011.

     

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Progress on assembling scaffolding, March 2, 2011.

 

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Main cable painting work will take place inside "tent-like" containment areas.

This is a side-view sketch of the containment in position around a main cable.
     
     
All photos are from the archives of the Golden Gate Bridge and may not be used without permission.