what a bridge, pretty huge

Some May updates:

http://media.baycitizen.org/uploaded/images/2011/5/bay-bridge-cable-saddle/lightbox/IMG_0031.JPG

World's Largest Cable Saddle

You can't have the world's largest self-anchored suspension (SAS) bridge without the world's largest bridge cable saddle. The newly constructed east span of the Bay Bridge (which connects San Francisco to Oakland, CA) extends 2,047 ft, from the Yerba Buena Island to a skyway which leads to shore. More so than its size, it's the bridge's single-cable design which makes it unique. The mile-long cable is led twice over top a single tower, held in place by the colossal cable saddle that crews installed earlier today.
The saddle weighs approximately 450 tons and is 13.7 ft tall at its apex. The single-cable, single-tower design is both an engineering triumph and an aesthetic achievement, offering unobstructed views of the bay along its east span. (SF Examiner)



http://www.sfexaminer.com/files/blog_images/bay%20bridge_1.jpg

Work continues on the cable stay tower

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3423/5723358655_7cd8e7b7ba_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/string_bass_dave/5723358655/)
Bay Bridge Construction (http://www.flickr.com/photos/string_bass_dave/5723358655/) by string_bass_dave (http://www.flickr.com/people/string_bass_dave/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5667142367_10535b29e5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbeebephoto/5667142367/)
RB_04-23-11_148a-100_SFO-BayBridge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbeebephoto/5667142367/) by rbeebephoto (http://www.flickr.com/people/rbeebephoto/), on Flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2291/5768304572_3ab6f3712b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifelover4/5768304572/)
Bay Bridge B&W (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifelover4/5768304572/) by LifeLover4 (http://www.flickr.com/people/lifelover4/), on Flickr

Finally this thing is getting somewhere.

June 30

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5240/5874718108_78f5934f60_b_d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/

July 15

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/5941072497_569347f2d5_b_d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/

Thank you desertpunk!! I can't get enough of this bridge :applause:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6095212661_f5c09f77ff_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70111366@N00/6095212661/)
Bay Bridge catwalk illumination (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70111366@N00/6095212661/) by jakeller (http://www.flickr.com/people/70111366@N00/), on Flickr

SFAppeal (http://sfappeal.com/news/2011/08/get-used-to-it-old-eastern-span-of-bay-bridge-will-take-years-to-take-apart.php)


Get Used To It: Old Eastern Span Of Bay Bridge Will Take Years To Take Apart

The current eastern span of the Bay Bridge will remain in the Bay for several years after it becomes defunct in 2013 since it will have to be taken apart piece-by-piece, a Caltrans spokesman said.

The eastern span, a cantilever bridge built in 1936, is being replaced by a self-anchored suspension bridge that will connect Oakland to Yerba Buena Island and the western span of the bridge in San Francisco, Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney said.

The building of the new eastern span was commissioned following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that collapsed a section of the upper deck of the bridge.

After years of delays and cost overruns, the new span is finally set to open sometime in fall 2013, having reached significant milestones in the $6.3 billion project in the past two days.

On Sunday, the final four deck sections of the bridge arrived from Shanghai, China, and on Monday evening, temporary catwalks leading up to the 525-foot tower of the new span were illuminated with construction lights, giving residents a sneak preview of what the bridge will look like.

But once the new eastern span is completed and opened, the project will still not be complete since crews have to dismantle the old span, a process that could take several years, Ney said.

[...]

years to take apart?

will they dismantle it piece by piece instead of blowing it up like this one?

nmdf2ijvYnY

This project takes ages. I remember my first visit in the US, probably in 2001 if I remember, there was already construction started of the approaches.
That was 10 years ago!!!:nuts:

This project takes ages. I remember my first visit in the US, probably in 2001 if I remember, there was already construction started of the approaches.
That was 10 years ago!!!:nuts:

Yep, that's what the United States has become. Look at the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan... two and a half miles of suspension bridge with the record setting mainspan (6,532 feet) that is three times as long as the combined (2) spans (1,854 feet total) of the self anchoring suspension portion. Geez, even a side span of the AKB is over one and a half times the combined spans of the self anchoring suspension portion. The Akashi was completed in 10 years despite the Great Hanshin Earthquake that had even lengthened the mainspan by three feet due to a fault running under the mainspan spreading that much. Considering the cost of both these bridges... Akashi Kaikyo Bridge at ~$5 Billion total, or ~$390,000 lineal foot / New Eastern Span Replacement at ~$6.3 Billion total, or ~$542,000 lineal foot (I'm confident the SAS portion is well over 1,000,000 per lineal foot), perhaps this is a wash due to inflation, but I feel the AKB is / was more bang for the buck. I guess they really did not want to build anything that would overshadow the Golden Gate Bridge.

^^

I don't think theres any chance of this bridge overshadowing the Golden Gate. Its a very impressive piece of infrastructure with all the latest technology, but it doesn't have the same presence as the Golden Gate. The new Oakland Bay Bridge is more low profile

years to take apart?

will they dismantle it piece by piece instead of blowing it up like this one?

nmdf2ijvYnY

Many states prohibit such demolitions; California is among them.

^^

I don't think theres any chance of this bridge overshadowing the Golden Gate. Its a very impressive piece of infrastructure with all the latest technology, but it doesn't have the same presence as the Golden Gate. The new Oakland Bay Bridge is more low profile

Yes, I very much acknowledged that in my last sentence.

My point is that for the $$$ there could have been something that overshadowed the Golden Gate. Of course that would never happen. The Akashi Kaikyo could have been duplicated here, or even the Strait of Messina Bridge as I'm reading that project is in the same range cost-wise. Imagine the two mile shore to shore of the eastern span replacement span being jumped in just a single span. Instead there's a long runway bridge with the token jewel of the self anchoring section that is only just 1/6 of the project.

The new Bay Bridge will not even overshadow the old span that toward San Francisco. It can’t compete with Golden Gate Bridge. If you are from ferry in the middle of the bay or from the airplane, you will see how beautiful it is. I wish the new bridge will be nicer than the old span but it is not. Remember, the new bridge is closed and goes under the old bridge so removing the old truss bridge need more time.

Many states prohibit such demolitions; California is among them.
understood.

Many states prohibit such demolitions; California is among them.

Why?

Minimize environmental impact (even when it's just the deep SF Bay where explosive demolition would have only sudden, but short, effects on animal habitat). I think there's also something about making it easier for material recovery for later recycling - structural steel is something that can easily be melted down and reused elsewhere - though I'm not sure that that was part of the original motivation for prohibiting explosive demolition.

California doesn't prohibit the explosives demolition of bridges. I have done plenty of them in California. It actually would have been the safest and most efficient way to do it on this project. Unfortunately, the environmentalists are running the show and they are much more concerned with a seal possibly eating a chip of lead paint then they are are of a worker being killed.
In regards to the steel, all you have to do it attach a cable and a float to it. The crane grabs the cable and hoist it up off the bay bottom and sends it to the mill for recycling. With scrap steel going for over $400 per ton these days you can imagine what the scrap value of the steel is.

Huh. Never saw or heard of such demolitions in California. Thanks for the correction.

A good photo laying out the site and showing construction (thanks to bay_area for the great photo)
The Western span that is not being changed is on the top, while the eastern span on the bottom is

September 28

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/6190536569_7b9d160fcc_b_d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6191069612_a4dae7b9b8_b_d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6163/6191206359_52f22558f8_b_d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4830126244_fff6558379_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/beatlequee/4830126244/)
IMG_5870.JPG (http://www.flickr.com/photos/beatlequee/4830126244/) by beatlequeen (http://www.flickr.com/people/beatlequee/), on Flickr

nice vid !

September 28

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6010/6190536569_7b9d160fcc_b_d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6191069612_a4dae7b9b8_b_d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6163/6191206359_52f22558f8_b_d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbo31/

Thanks for those pics!

Last deck segment put in place Friday!

From earlier:

http://baybridgeinfo.org/sites/default/files/images/background/front/front2.jpg
http://baybridgeinfo.org/

http://baybridgeinfo.org/sites/default/files/images/background/front/front6.jpg
http://baybridgeinfo.org/

Damn!!! They're still working on this bridge?? Nice bridge though.

http://baybridgeinfo.org/sites/default/files/images/background/sas/sas1.jpg

http://baybridgeinfo.org/sites/default/files/images/background/skyway/skyway7.jpg

http://baybridgeinfo.org/sites/default/files/images/background/ybi/ybi6.jpg


http://baybridgeinfo.org/sites/default/files/images/background/sas/sas1.jpg

impressive pictures. Thanks

Here is an update on the demolition scope, set to begin shortly after the new span open in 2013.



http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/transportation/2012/01/bay-bridge-demolition-last-longer-first-projected (http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/transportation/2012/01/bay-bridge-demolition-last-longer-first-projected)

the cantilever span is scheduled first.

Source: SJ Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/)

Bay Bridge closure going smoothly, BART traffic up

By Rick Hurd and Chris De Benedetti
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 02/18/2012 06:55:09 PM PST
Updated: 02/18/2012 08:03:46 PM PST

The first 24 hours of the Bay Bridge's holiday weekend closure of its westbound lanes went smooth, a Caltrans spokesman said, with other arterials and mass transit seeing increased traffic.

BART reported thousands of extra riders as the transit system ran extra trains Saturday, and other Bay Area bridges reported some delays as motorists were forced to take detours to reach San Francisco from the East Bay.

Traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge was heavier than normal, bridge spokeswoman Mary Currie said, but vehicles were still moving about 35 mph at stretches of the bridge.

The Bay Bridge's westbound lanes closed at 8 p.m. Friday and are scheduled not to reopen until 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Motorists still are able to drive on the lower deck from San Francisco toward Oakland.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19997276

From New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/02/06/science/a-replacement-bridge-rises-on-the-bay.html?scp=2&sq=oakland%20bay%20bridge&st=cse

Are they building this by hand? This is taking an eternity!

Source: NBC Bay Area (http://www.nbcbayarea.com/)

Bay Bridge Opens Early
Good weather allowed crews to finish work quickly.
Monday, Feb 20, 2012 | Updated 8:47 AM PST

The Bay Bridge's westbound upper deck reopened a day and a half ahead of schedule.

With all planned demolition and maintenance work completed, California Department of Transportation Officials began removing cones from the bridge and approaches around 7 p.m. Traffic was flowing freely by 7:30 p.m.

Motorists passing through the toll plaza are asked to drive carefully, since the merge will be different. While 20 lanes will still merge down to 5, they will curve slightly to the south, Ney said.

The bridge was not scheduled to reopen until Tuesday at 5 a.m., but Ney said unexpectedly good weather had allowed work to progress quickly.

Read more: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Bay-Bridge-Opens-Early-139701753.html

Are they building this by hand? This is taking an eternity!


Of course, certain parts needs to be welded together by hand, and then they have to ship it from Shanghai, then to be lifted into place. It takes time you know.

Big projects in the US take forever nowadays.

Big projects in the US take forever nowadays.

I'm stunned by the cost too, especially considering there is not really a new right-of-way needed. The new Tappan Zee Bridge has an incredible price tag too.

150,000 vehicles per day bring in quite a lot of toll revenue, but is the project entirely toll-financed?

Well for SF I'm sure some of the high cost is making it resistant to earthquakes, but the Tappan Zee well who knows.

I'm stunned by the cost too, especially considering there is not really a new right-of-way needed. The new Tappan Zee Bridge has an incredible price tag too.

You're right, same thing for
-- the Goethals Bridge Replacement http://www.panynj.gov/goethalsbridge/
-- the Bayonne Bridge Navigational Clearance Raising Project http://www.panynj.gov/bayonnebridge/

Those infrastructure projects are essential.
They should be viewed as an investment.
Sadly, even now, those projects are fighting to be properly design and constructed. Will they incorporate sidewalks? bike paths? public transportation lanes? ...

http://baybridgeinfo.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/node925520/images/wb_detour.jpg
Source: http://baybridgeinfo.org/

April 18

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/6981317032_b28850f593_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/6981317032/)
Bay Bridge East span 2012: the SAS (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/6981317032/) by bhautik joshi (http://www.flickr.com/people/captin_nod/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/7127403747_3b588b268a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/7127403747/)
Bay Bridge East span 2012: falsework (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/7127403747/) by bhautik joshi (http://www.flickr.com/people/captin_nod/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7127403689_b5d9dc6f5e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/7127403689/)
Bay Bridge East span 2012: hinge pipe beams (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/7127403689/) by bhautik joshi (http://www.flickr.com/people/captin_nod/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6981316786_dd4abb2bb8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/6981316786/)
Bay Bridge East span 2012: spans compared (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/6981316786/) by bhautik joshi (http://www.flickr.com/people/captin_nod/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/6981316342_08216a63f5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/6981316342/)
Bay Bridge East span 2012: skyway (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/6981316342/) by bhautik joshi (http://www.flickr.com/people/captin_nod/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7127403283_3d04358ff1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/7127403283/)
Bay Bridge East span 2012: cable compression (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/7127403283/) by bhautik joshi (http://www.flickr.com/people/captin_nod/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/7127403207_117ce55325_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/7127403207/)
Bay Bridge East span 2012: SAS cable saddle (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/7127403207/) by bhautik joshi (http://www.flickr.com/people/captin_nod/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/6981316306_6cdb9e4052_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/6981316306/)
Bay Bridge East span 2012: skyway East (http://www.flickr.com/photos/captin_nod/6981316306/) by bhautik joshi (http://www.flickr.com/people/captin_nod/), on Flickr

^^

Thanks for the update desertpunk

...projects in the U.S. do seem to take a long ass time especially compared to China. :ohno:

^^

Thanks for the update desertpunk

...projects in the U.S. do seem to take a long ass time especially compared to China. :ohno:
There are two reasons for this Politics and Unions! Neither of which are a problem in China or many other places.:cheers:

There are two reasons for this Politics and Unions! Neither of which are a problem in China or many other places.:cheers:

I would say that Unions have much less to do with it than complicated planning rules with plenty of precise regulations and limitations. Add crazy legal system, litigation culture, assertive NIMBs and even planning anything can take years.

:okay:

There are two reasons for this Politics and Unions! Neither of which are a problem in China or many other places.:cheers:

Are you seriously going to advocate the U.S. be more like China? An unelected totalitarian government and non-existent environmental and labor laws that undermine the health and welfare of the people?

Are you seriously going to advocate the U.S. be more like China? An unelected totalitarian government and non-existent environmental and labor laws that undermine the health and welfare of the people?

Exactly, Hoosier. Why is it that so many in this country are engaged in a race to the bottom to meet the standards of China and India while they are racing to the top to be more like Germany.

I posted this message about a year and a half ago,,I believe the links still work,,it explains a lot of the cost overruns and how the project got so messed up by the politicians.




I'll tell you why its taking so long,,the usual system of politics,,corruption,,cost overruns and everything else associated with any big construction project in this county. I saw a documentary yrs ago about why its taking so long,,here's a link to many of the reasons and the delays,,as you can see its about par for the course. Like most big construction jobs everybodys got their hand in the money pot and who pays in the end,,correct,,the little guy.



http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/10/15/the_bay_area_bridge_that_time_forgot_98731.html


http://www.examiner.com/article/bridge-over-troubled-waters-the-new-sf-oakland-bay-bridge


http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050508/news_1n8bridge.html


http://sfpublicpress.org/news/2009-12/unparalleled-bridge-unprecedented-cost


BTW,,does anyone remember the "original completion date" for the bridge?

Wasn't it supposed to be 2006?

So what's the "projected" completion date. (and I use that term very loosely in this case)