by Terry Costales
(2 of 14)
The smoothly elegant new bridge ended at the beginning of its own construction. In advance of an understated
clean curve was the edge, composed of awkward looking temporary bare steel supports.
by Terry Costales
(3 of 14)
Almost invisible was the beginnings of supports for the Yerba Buena Island end of the new span.
Beyond this section of old bridge was the S-turn itself under construction.
by Bryan Costales
(5 of 14)
The old bridge was built from rigid triangles so that it would be strong.
Unfortunately that rigidity resulted in a break during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake
.
The new bridge is designed to slide
by Bryan Costales
(6 of 14)
Two support columns were just being finished on the left. A walkway for workmen connected
the new bridge to its next support.
by Bryan Costales
(8 of 14)
Cranes on barges were used to build the bridge. Huge cranes with huge piles of counterweight blocks because of the
huge weight of steel components being lifted.
by Bryan Costales
(9 of 14)
The new construction on Yerba Buena Island had to avoid damaging old fort structures and mature trees
growing on the island. Notice also that the new S-curve was waiting on the left to be slid into
by Bryan Costales
(10 of 14)
The part of the new roadway connecting Yerba Island to the the free-standing center support needed
something under it to hold the roadway up while the cables were installed. This was one of
by Bryan Costales
(11 of 14)
The connection of the new roadway to the new center support also had to be
held up under temporary supports until the cables could be installed.
These were the temporary supports on the eastern
by Terry Costales
(12 of 14)
The new tower for the suspension part of the bridge was just visible over the top
of Yerba Buena Island. Note that the crane is even higher than the tower.
by Terry Costales
(13 of 14)
A safety net for the first part of the new suspension cable was already in place.
It is over this safety netting that the new cable will be constructed.
