San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge

San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, double-decked structure, W Calif.; built 1933–36 and (eastern section replacement) 2002–13. It has a total length of 8.25 mi (13.2 km). From San Francisco it crosses the bay to Yerba Buena Island, where a tunnel connects with the section leading to Oakland and Berkeley. The western section consists of two suspension spans joined at a central anchorage; the eastern of a self-anchored single-tower suspension span and viaduct. In the severe earthquake that hit the Bay Area in 1989, the eastern section of the bridge, then consisting of a cantilever span, several truss spans, and a causeway, sustained significant damage; the damage was repaired, but a replacement bridge subsequently was constructed between Yerba Buena and Oakland.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. Physical Geography