BGuthrie Photos: CA -- San Francisco -- Richmond Bridge

CA -- San Francisco -- Richmond Bridge:

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[1] SFRBR_130726_06_STITCH.JPG

[2] SFRBR_130726_07_STITCH.JPG

[3] SFRBR_130726_12.JPG	[4] SFRBR_130726_16.JPG	[5] SFRBR_130726_20.JPG
[6] SFRBR_130726_24.JPG	[7] SFRBR_130726_28.JPG	[8] SFRBR_130726_35.JPG
[9] SFRBR_130726_37.JPG	[10] SFRBR_130726_48.JPG	[11] SFRBR_130726_55.JPG

Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. SFRBR_130726_12.JPG: Richmond-San Rafael Bridge History: The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge opened to traffic in 1956, following 2 years of planning and design and 4 years of construction. At that time, its 4.5 mile-length and double-deck design made it one of the most complex bridges in the state and California's longest steel structure. The bridge serves as a vital link between Marin and Contra Costa Counties. Today, over 75,000 commuters use the bridge daily to cross the northern end of the San Francisco Bay. Loma Prieta Earthquake: On October 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta Earthquake jolted the Bay Area. The earthquake, which measured 7.1 on the Richter scale and lasted 15 seconds, prompted a review of the seismic safety of all California bridges, including the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is sandwiched between the San Andreas Fault, located 10 miles to the west, and the Hayward Fault, located 4 miles to the east. A "no collapse criterion" was used for the seismic retrofit of the nearly 50-year old structure. Under this strategy, the bridge will withstand an earthquake of 7.25 magnitude on the Richter scale on the Hayward Fault and 8.0 magnitude on the San Andreas Fault.
2. SFRBR_130726_16.JPG: Seismic Retrofit: The seismic retrofit of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge involved strengthening all parts of the structure from the foundations and bridge deck to the steel towers and trestle. Retrofitting the foundations presented the most daunting challenge for the project. The strait is subject to strong currents, high winds, and low to now underwater visibility. Under these difficult conditions, workers installed large diameter piles in between the bell-shaped foundations of eleven of the bridge's piers. Forty-seven bridge piers were retrofitted with micropiles, in which smaller diameter piles were drilled through the existing foundation. A total of 480 micropiles were installed throughout the structure. Another challenging aspect of the retrofit involved modifications that allow controlled movement of the structure during an earthquake. Viscous dampers were installed at the existing towers' anchorages. In an earthquake, the dampers allow the bridge to expand or contract by as much as six feet. This action absorbs the earthquake's energy preventing additional structural damage. Some of the bridge's dampers are as large as a semi-truck, weighing two tons each. Isolation joints and bearing further strengthen the main bridge structure, and allow appropriate movement during an earthquake. To better understand the magnitude of this undertaking, here are some of the statistics at the successful conclusion of this project: * Over 6 million person hours expended * Over 80 watercraft dedicated to this project alone * Over 30 million pounds of structural steel added to the bridge * Over 130,000 linear feet of foundation piling driven * Over 120,000 cubic yards of concrete placed * Over 20,000,000 pounds of reinforcing steel installed * Over 1.2 million high strength bolts utilized
3. SFRBR_130726_35.JPG: Marin Rod and Gun Club
4. SFRBR_130726_37.JPG: Fish Smart in San Francisco Bay Harmful chemicals like mercury and PCBs are in some fish in San Francisco Bay. Women 18-45 years old and children should only eat the fish with less chemicals in them. [Interesting that sharks had to be mentioned. People eat sharks?]
Wikipedia Description: Richmond–San Rafael Bridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Richmond–San Rafael Bridge (officially, the John F. McCarthy Memorial Bridge) is the northernmost of the east–west crossings of the San Francisco Bay in California, USA, connecting Richmond on the east to San Rafael on the west end. It opened in 1956, replacing ferry service by the Richmond–San Rafael Ferry Company.

Description:

The bridge—including approaches—measures 5.5 miles (29,040 feet / 8,851.39 m / 8.9 km) long. At the time it was built, it was one of the world's longest bridges. The bridge spans two principal ship channels and has two separate major spans, each of the cantilever type. To save money, both main cantilever sections were designed identically, including the angles, necessitating the "dip" in the central section, giving the bridge a "roller coaster" appearance and also the nickname "roller coaster span". This appearance has also been referred to as a "bent coat hanger". After it was completed, many were disappointed by the aesthetics of the low budget bridge, especially when compared to the engineering and historical marvels of the neighboring Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge.

According to Dennis McNally, Jerry Garcia conceived the idea for the Grateful Dead song Terrapin Station while driving across the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge.

Golden Gate Transit bus routes 40 and 42 provide public transportation across the bridge, connecting El Cerrito del Norte BART and Richmond BART/Amtrak (42 only) stations and other locations in Richmond with San Rafael Transit Center and other locations in San Rafael.

History:

Originally a part of State Route 17, the bridge is now part of Interstate 580. Upon its opening, the Richmond–San Rafael bridge was the last bridge across San Francisco Bay to replace a previous ferry service, leaving the Benicia–Martinez Ferry across Carquinez Strait as the only remaining auto ferry in the Bay Area (it would be replaced by a bridge in 1962). Each deck of the bridge has 2 lanes and a shoulder; westbound traffic rides on the upper deck, while eastbound traffic rides on the lower deck.

Construction was financed by the sale of $62 million in revenue bonds, along with a loan of $4.68 million from the State School Land Fund. The bridge was finished $4 million under budget.

The novel 'Abuse of Power' by Michael Savage has several important scenes set on this majestic bridge. In one, the hero Jack Hatfield escapes his enemies by climbing the work ladders built into the piers.
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