Existing comment:
A Lasting Monument
When asked how long the Golden Gate Bridge would last, Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss replied, "Forever." The Bridge was designed to be strong and durable, but to make it a lasting monument requires continual maintenance and improvements.
Since its opening in 1937, the Bridge has had many upgrades and retrofits:
* bracing across the bottom of the deck, to make the deck twist less in high winds
* a portion of the roadway deck was replaced with a lighter-weight structural layer
* all of the 500 vertical lines you see on the bridge, the suspender ropes, were replaced one by one
* seismic retrofits have been installed from one end of the Bridge to the other
* some of the original riveted-together X-braced struts as seen in the arch portion of the Bridge over Fort Point have been replaced with higher-strength pieces of steel
* prevention of rust goes on constantly; the signature International Orange color is always used for re-painting the historic structure to preserve its appearance
* motion-measurement sensors have been installed throughout the Bridge, monitoring how it responds to wind, earthquakes, traffic loads, and temperature changes
The staff needed to maintain the Bridge includes engineers, ironworkers, electricians, and painters, to name a few. The workforce of the Bridge take great pride in their role in maintaining not only an essential transportation route but also a famous and beloved landmark. |