Golden Gate Bridge Statistics

DATES
January 5, 1933 Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge begins.
May 27, 1937 Golden Gate Bridge opens to pedestrian traffic.
May 28, 1938 Golden Gate Bridge opens to vehicular traffic at twelve o'clock noon when President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in the White House to announce the event to the world. The Bridge opened ahead of schedule and under budget.

BRIDGE
Total length of Bridge including approaches 8,981 ft
Length of suspension span including main span and side spans 6,450 ft
Length of main span portion of suspended structure 4,200 ft
Length of one side span 1,125 ft
Width of Bridge 90 ft
Width of roadway between curbs 62 ft
Width of sidewalk 10.5 ft
Clearance above mean higher high water 220 ft
Deepest foundation below mean low water 110 ft
Total weight of Bridge, anchorages and north and south approaches (1994) 887,000 tons

TOWERS
Height of towers above water 746 ft
Height of towers above roadway 500 ft
Base dimension (each leg) 33 X 54 ft
Load on tower from cables 61,500 tons
Weight of two towers 44,400 tons

MAIN CABLES
Length of one cable 7,650 ft
Diameter of cables over wrapping 36 3/8 in
Number of wires on each cable 27,572
Number of strands on each cable 61
Total length of wire used 80,000 miles

Art Deco Theme
The original plans submitted by Chief Engineer Joseph B. Strauss called for a hybrid cantilever and suspension structure across the Golden Gate. This plan was generally regarded as unsightly, and a far cry from the elegant, understated lines that define the Bridge today. After Strauss submitted his first design, Consulting Engineer Leon S. Moisseiff theorized that a long span suspension bridge could cross the Gate. A suspension structure of this length has never been tried before.
Even after Moisseiff and Strauss began to refine the new design, it wasn't until Consulting Architects Irving F. Morrow and his wife Gertrude C. Morrow joined the project that the art deco styling began to take shape. The Morrows added the consistent, subtle art deco elements which now embody the Bridge. They simplified the pedestrian railings to modest, uniform posts placed far enough apart to allow motorists an unobstructed view. The light posts took on a lean, angled form. Wide, vertical ribbing was added on the horizontal tower bracing to accent the sun's light on the structure. The rectangular tower portals themselves decrease on ascent, further emphasizing the tower height. These architectural enhancements define the Golden Gate Bridge's art deco form. It is this form which is know and admired the world over.

Fog Horns
The original Bridge fog horns, one at mid-span and one at the south pier, remained in use for nearly 50 years. Their deep, baritone sounds guided hundreds of thousands of vessels safely thorough the Gate, and forewarned San Franciscans when fog was rolling in to envelop The City.
Unfortunately, in the late 1970s, the two-tone fog horn at mid-span stopped working. One of the horn's two air valves gave way and the two-tone horn became a one-tone horn.
But since the mechanism was so old, replacement parts were impossible to find. The hobbled horn continued to sound its one-tone beacon until 1985, when both of the original horns showed signs of wear, tear, and exposure to the elements. The original fog horns were replaced by new horns manufactured by the Leslie Air Horn Company. The new horns, while differing in frequency or one from one another, are all single-toned horns which operating, like the originals, with compressed air.
The fog horns operate, on average, two and a half hours a day. During March, you’ll hear them for less than half an hour a day. But during the Bay Area's foggy season, July through October, they sound over five hours a day.
Small vessels that do not have radar still use the Bridge fog horns as guides when visibility in the Golden Gate Strait is low. Each horn has a different pitch and marine navigational chars give the frequency, or signature, of each fog horn. Vessel operators heading into the Bay steer left of the south pier horn and right of the mid-span horn. Outbound vessels stay to the right of the mid-span horn.
Beacons
The Bridge is also equipped with navigational and warning lights for travelers by sea and by air. Originally, a red rotating aircraft beacon shown on the top of each tower. In 1980, they were replace with 360 degree flashing red beacons. The Bridge main cables are also marked with red cable outline lights. In 1983, they were replaced with new and more efficient lights. For seafaring vessels, there are red navigation lights on the south pier fender and white and green lights below the deck at mid-span.


Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't the golden gate bridge painted gold?
The term ‘golden gate’ refers to the golden gate strait - the entrance to San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. The strait is approximately three-miles long by one-mile wide with currents ranging from 4.5 to 7.5 knots. It is generally accepted that the strait was named "chrysopylae" or Golden Gate by Army Captain John C. Fremont, circa 1846. It is said it reminded him of a harbor in Istanbul named chrysoceras or golden horn.

The golden gate bridge has always been painted orange vermilion, or "international orange". Consulting architect Irving Morrow rejected carbon black and steel gray, selecting instead the distinctive orange color because it blends well with the span's natural setting of the Marin Headlands. If the U.S. Navy had its way, the bridge might have been painted black and yellow stripes to assure greater visibility for passing ships.

How often is the bridge painted?
Painting the golden gate bridge is an ongoing task and the primary maintenance job. The paint protects the bridge from the high salt content in the air, which rusts and corrodes the steel components.

Many misconceptions exist about how often the bridge is painted. Some say once every seven years, others say from end-to-end each year. Actually, the Bridge was painted when it was originally built. For the next 27 years, only touch up was required. By 1965, advancing corrosion sparked a program to remove the original paint and replace it with an inorganic zinc silicate primer and acrylic emulsion topcoat. The program was completed in 1995. The Bridge will continue to require routine touch up painting on an on-going basis.

How many ironworkers and painters maintain the bridge?
Currently, a revered and rugged group of 17 Ironworkers and 38 Painters battle wind, sea air and fog, often suspended high above the Gate, to repair corroding steel. Ironworkers replace corroding steel and rivets with high-strength steel bolts, make small fabrications for use on the Bridge, and assist Painters with their rigging. Ironworkers also remove plates and bars to provide access for Painters to the interiors of the columns and chords that make up the Bridge. Painters prepare all Bridge surfaces and repaint all corroded areas.

What is the poem on the bridge written by Joseph B. Strauss?
Upon completion of building the Golden Gate Bridge in May 1937, Chief Engineer Joseph B. Strauss wrote a poem entitled "The Mighty Task is Done."

When did the bridge open?
The dream of spanning the Golden Gate Strait had been around for well over a century before the Golden Gate Bridge opened to traffic on May 28, 1937. Pedestrian Day was held on May 27, 1937.

Does the Golden Gate Bridge have the world's longest suspension span?
Not any more. The 4,200 foot long suspension span of the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest span in the world from the time of its construction in 1937 until New York City's Verrazano Narrows Bridge was opened on November 21, 1964. It is 60 feet longer than the Golden Gate Bridge. The Verrazano was the longest single span bridge until July 17, 1981, when the Humber Bridge in England, spanning the Humber River, was opened for traffic with a main span of 4,626 feet.
Today, both the Great Belt East Bridge in Denmark (main span of 5,328 feet) and the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan (main span of 6,532 feet) have main span lengths which exceed that of the Humber Bridge. The list below shows the relative suspension bridges in comparison.

Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, Japan 6,532 feet 1,991 meters 1998
Great Belt East Bridge, Denmark 5,328 feet 1,624 meters 1997
Humber Bridge, England 4,626 feet 1,410 meters 1981
Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge, China 4,544 feet 1,385 meters 1999
Tsing Ma Bridge, China 4,518 feet 1,377 meters 1997
Verrazano Narrows Bridge, New York 4,260 feet 1,299 meters 1964
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco 4,200 feet 1,280 meters 1937
High Coast Bridge, Sweden 3,970 feet 1,210 meters 1997
Mackinac Straits Bridge, Michigan 3,800 feet 1,158 meters 1957
Minami Bisan-Seto Bridge, Japan 3,609 feet 1,100 meters 1988
Second Bosphorous, Turkey 3,576 feet 1,090 meters 1992
First Bosphorous, Turkey 3,523 feet 1,074 meters 1973
George Washington Bridge, New York 3,500 feet 1,067 meters 1931

*Main Span length refers to the suspension portion of the bridge which hangs between the two main towers.

How long did it take to build?
Just over four years. Construction commenced on january 5, 1933 and the bridge was open to vehicular traffic on may 28, 1937.

How many workers died during construction and what were their names?
Eleven men. Until February 17, 1937, there had been only one fatality, setting a new all-time record in a field where one man killed for every million dollars spent had been the norm. On February 17, ten more men lost their lives when a section of scaffold carrying twelve men fell through the safety net.
October 21, 1936: Kermit Moore
February 17, 1937: O.A. Anderson; Chris Anderson; William Bass; O. Desper; Fred Dümmatzen; Terrence Hallinan; Eldridge Hillen; Charles Lindros; Jack Norman; and Louis Russell.

What is the halfway-to-hell club?
The most conspicuous precaution was the safety net, suspended under the floor of the Bridge from end to end. During construction, the net saved the lives of 19 men who became known as the "Half-Way-to-Hell Club."

What would it cost to build today?
The cost to construct a new Golden Gate Bridge would be approximately $1.2 billion in 2003 dollars. The total price depends on a many factors including the extent of the environmental reviews and the cost of labor and materials.

How can I find out if my relative worked on the bridge?
During the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, ten prime contractors and various subcontractors were used. Not all of them kept accurate records of the people they employed. All ten prime contractors are no longer in business, and therefore employment records are not available (to our knowledge). The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District is unable to identify individuals who contributed to the building of the bridge.

How many people attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge?
The dream of spanning the Golden Gate Strait had been around for well over a century before the Golden Gate Bridge opened to traffic on May 28, 1937. On Sunday, May 24, 1987, this dream come true was celebrated as the Golden Gate Bridge turned fifty. With great fanfare, people from all over the world came to pay homage to the Bridge, become part of an historical celebration and create lifelong memories. The day began as "Bridgewalk 87", a reenactment of "Pedestrian Day 37". It is estimated that nearly 300,000 people surged onto the roadway. By 11:00 a.m. The Bridge was cleared for a commemorative vintage automobile motorcade. As a token of appreciation to the thousands of motorists who use the Bridge each day, the Board of Directors suspended toll collection for the day.

Is the Golden Gate Bridge, highway and transportation district a public agency?
Yes. The "Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District Act" was enacted by the California State Legislature on May 25, 1923. The enabling legislation gave counties the right to organize as a bridge district and borrow money, issue bonds, construct a bridge and collect tolls. On December 4, 1928, the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District was formed as the entity to design, construct and finance the Golden Gate Bridge. The District consists of San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Del Norte and parts of Mendocino and Napa counties. On November 10, 1969, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 584 authorizing the District to develop a transportation facility plan for implementing a mass transportation program in the Golden Gate Corridor. This was to include any and all forms of transit, including ferry. At that time, the word "Transportation" was added to the District name.

Why was the toll increased to $5.00 in 2002?
For over ten years, the Golden Gate Bridge toll remained a constant $3. During that time, Bay Area inflation eroded the buying power of those dollars by 3.4 percent annually, while fuel, insurance, and other non-directly controllable expenses increased by an average of 5.5 percent annually. Labor costs increased approximately 5.3 percent annually and the federal government¹s funding of key capital projects, such as the seismic retrofit, decreased substantially. Now 65 years old, the Bridge requires more significant rehabilitation to maintain structural integrity than in previous years. These factors, combined with the current economic recession, security challenges and an overall drop in travel, accelerated the need for local funds.

Currently, 50 percent of bus and ferry operations are funded by Bridge tolls, with another 30 percent coming from transit fares, and the remainder being met by federal and state subsidies. While many Bay Area counties have enacted local sales taxes to support public transit, Marin and Sonoma counties have not. Further, the Golden Gate Bridge District does not have the authority to levy taxes. Therefore, the use of surplus Bridge toll revenue has been the only local means available to support financial shortfalls of the operation of the District's bus and ferry services.

Responding to the need for local funds, the Board of Directors authorized staff to conduct an analysis of the potential environmental and economic impacts of 12 different toll options including a "no change" option. On May 23, 2002 the Board selected three of the options for further review. Staff sought public input on the options and conducted a public outreach program including open houses, presentations, and a public hearing. After considering all public comments, the Board of Directors voted on June 27, 2002 to increase the cash toll to $5 and the fastrak toll to $4. Motorcycles and carpools are free during carpool hours.

How many vehicles have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge?
As of May 2002, 1,724,438,381 vehicles had crossed the Bridge.

When did the bridge experience its highest and lowest volumes of traffic?
LOWEST: The low On Monday, January 4, 1982, a devastating rain storm struck the San Francisco Bay Area. Earth slides and flooding covered the highway and roads north of the Bridge. Two days later on Wednesday, January 6, only 3,921 southbound vehicles crossed the Bridge. This compares to the average daily southbound count of 37,936 for January 1982.

HIGHEST: The high During the evening commute on October 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta Earthquake jarred the Bay Area with a force measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale. The Golden Gate Bridge withstood, undamaged, the most devastating quake to strike the Bay Area since 1906. During this time of myriad traffic problems, extra bus and ferry trips were added to help smooth the commute as a flood of 30,000 to 40,000 drivers were diverted from the East Bay to Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge due to the failure of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge. On October 27, 1989, an all-time record of 162,414 vehicles crossed the Bridge north and southbound.

Has the Golden Gate Bridge ever been closed?
Yes, the Golden Gate Bridge has been closed due to weather conditions only three times: As gusting winds reached 69 miles per hour on December 1, 1951, the Bridge was closed for three hours. On December 23, 1982, high winds of up to 70 miles per hour closed the Bridge for almost two hours. The Bridge easily withstood the gusts. On December 3, 1983, once again high winds closed the Bridge for the longest period in its history, 3 hours and 27 minutes. Wind gusts reached 75 miles per hour, but again the Bridge suffered no structural damage.
The Bridge was closed very briefly on two separate occasions for visiting dignitaries President Franklin D. Roosevelt and President Charles de Gaulle of France. It has also been closed briefly in the middle of the night for construction activities.

Why does the Golden Gate Bridge use reversible lanes?
Reversible lanes were inaugurated on the Bridge on October 29, 1963. Their use greatly aids the flow of traffic during the heavy morning and evening commute hours and during weekend tourist periods. The Bridge has a total of six lanes. At any given time the number of lanes northbound or southbound may be adjusted. Bright yellow lane markers are manually placed in "sockets" in the Bridge roadway to clearly identify the San Francisco outbound lanes (northbound) and San Francisco inbound lanes (southbound). During the morning commute there are four lanes of traffic southbound to San Francisco and two lanes northbound to Marin. During the afternoon commute there are four lanes northbound to Marin and two lanes southbound to San Francisco.

What about one-way toll collection, when was it instituted?
In October 19, 1968, the Golden Gate Bridge became the first major bridge in the world to offer one-way toll collection. The system proved so successful it has since been instituted on many bridges throughout the world.

What are the carpool hours on the Golden Gate Bridge?
In April 1976, the District initiated toll free passage on the Golden Gate Bridge for vehicles with three or more occupants during peak commute traffic hours. The free CAR POOL hours, weekdays only, are from 5:00-9:00 a.m. And 4:00-6:00 p.m.

What kind of lighting is on the Golden Gate Bridge?
There are 128 lights from abutment to abutment, which are 250 watt High Pressure Sodium (HPS). These lights were installed in 1972, thirty-five years after the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge. There are 24 total tower sidewalk lights, which are located around both towers. These are low pressure sodium, 35 watts each. There are 12 tower decorative lights above the roadway for each tower. They are 400 watt HPS. There are also 12 below the roadway for each tower: four 150 watt; four 250 watt; and, four 400 watt. All of these are HPS. The Bridge also has Pier navigation lights. The South pier has one 1000 watt beacon, facing north, and four 116 watt on the fender, one on each side. The North pier has three 116 watt lights on the three sides facing the water. There are eight 116 watt main cable lights on each cable. Each tower has an airway beacon and each beacon has two 700 watt lamps. The midspan of the Bridge has eight lights to make the center of the Bridge visible. There are four on each side in a vertical column. The top three lights are white and the bottom light is green. The two scaffolds, on the center span of the Bridge, each have four red lights (69 watt) marking the bottom four corners of the scaffold to indicate reduced clearance of the Bridge.

How many rivets are there in each Golden Gate Bridge tower?
There are approximately 600,000 rivets in each tower.

Where was the steel fabricated for the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge?
The fabricated steel used in the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge was manufactured by Bethlehem Steel in plants in Trenton, New Jersey and Sparrows Point, Maryland and in plants in three Pennsylvania towns: Bethlehem, Pottstown, and Steelton. The steel was loaded, in sections, onto rail cars, taken to Philadelphia and shipped through the Panama Canal to San Francisco. The shipment of the steel was timed to coincide with the construction of the bridge.

What did the bricks cost that are in the walkway on the southeast side of the bridge?
As part of the 1 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1987, a walkway comprised of personalized bricks was constructed at the southeast side of the Bridge in the visitor area, just north of the Strauss Statue. Initially, prices for the bricks were $32 for a basic brick with a name inscribed, $43 for a message brick, $54 for a signature brick, and $75 for logo/captioned brick. In August 1988, several prices were raised: $35 for a basic brick, $49 for a message brick, and $59 for a signature brick. The brick program was implemented in March 1988 and 7,416 bricks were sold.

Selected questions are from www.goldengatebridge.org