Construction
Major Bridge Improvements
Since its completion in 1937, a number of rehabilitation and improvement projects have been undertaken to preserve, protect and extend the life of this world-famous structure. The most significant of these improvements prior to are included below.
The current projects being undertaken on the Bridge are located in the Current Projects.
Major Bridge Improvements
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1953 -1954
On December 1, 1951, a great windstorm threatened the integrity of the Bridge. The District subsequently added a lower lateral bracing system to significantly increase the stability of the Bridge at a cost $3.5 million.
1967-1969
Consulting Engineers from Amman & Whitney conducted a major inspection of the Bridge.
1973-1976
Corrosion was discovered on the suspender ropes during the 1967-1969 Bridge inspection. The District worked with Ammann & Whitney to develop plans and specifications to replace the suspender ropes. They were replaced at a cost of $9 million in District funds.
1980-1982
Following the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) issued new retrofit design standards for existing structures. Both the San Francisco and Marin approaches to the Bridge were retrofitted to increase earthquake resistance. The project was completed in 1982 with 80 percent of the $2.8 million cost borne by the federal government.
1980-1989
Over the nine year period, all 11 toll collection booths were renovated to more safely accommodate the flow of traffic at a cost of. $1.7 million.
1982-1986
Over the years, salt and moisture from the fog and ocean have penetrated and deteriorated the Bridge's roadway deck. In response, the greatest engineering project since the building of the Bridge occurred when the original concrete deck and its supporting steel stringers were replaced with a lighter, stronger orhotropic deck. The District worked with Ammann & Whitney to develop this new deck design. Approximately 80 percent of the total cost of $68.1 million was borne by the Federal Highway Administration as a result of Congressional legislation recognizing the importance of this project in the protection of interstate commerce. The balance was paid by the District.
The replacement work occurred mostly at night to ensure that daytime peak traffic was not affected. During the course of the project, 747 deck sections were replaced. The final phase was completed in the summer of 1986 when two inches of epoxy asphalt were laid over the surface of the steel deck roadway. During the replacement, the roadway was widened by two feet resulting in outside lane widths of 11 feet, up from 10 feet. The four inside lanes remain 10 feet wide.
1986-1987
Bridge tower lighting, included in the original Bridge design but not constructed until this time, was installed at a cost of $1.2 million. The project was funded in part through a donation from Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Further, the lighting was installed, at cost, by Abbett Electric Company.
1993-1994
By 1992, after 55 years of constant weather exposure, approximately 6,557 lineal feet of west side pedestrian railing had deteriorated. The District replaced the railing with an exact replica, preserving the historical and architectural character of the Bridge, at a cost of $1.3 million.
1996-1997
In August 1996, pavement and drainage rehabilitation of 1,600 feet of roadway in the Toll Plaza area commenced. To maintain the smooth flow of traffic during peak periods, work was performed at night. The project was completed in early 1997.
1997
The first phase of seismic retrofit construction began on the north approach to the Golden Gate Bridge. This construction will be completed in September 2001.
2001
In June 2001, the second phase of seismic retrofit construction began on the South approach and Ft. Point sections of the Golden Gate Bridge.