Presidio of San Francisco in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
A Lasting Monument
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.
Captions
Top left: To examine the condition of the wires that make up the main cables, Bridge workers remove the outer wire cover to expose the 27,572 parallel wires. Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
Bottom left: Electricians need a lift to reach and repair the Bridge lights. Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
Right side, clockwise from top right:
Rust and old paint are removed before the zinc-rich primer is applied, followed by the top coat of signature International Orange paint. Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
A system including a harness and latch hooks that secure workers to the Bridge are required safety equipment. This ironworker is wearing his safety harness while tightening a bolt near the top of one of the Bridge towers. Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
A new support under an approach at the north end of the Bridge replaces an original one and includes some modern seismic engineering features. Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
View inside a sky box where suspension cables receive a coat of paint. Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
This paint rig, also known as a sky box, is about to travel up the suspender ropes for workers to apply a finish coast of paint over the primer. Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District
Erected by 2012 by Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.
Topics. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.
Location. 37° 48.492′ N, 122° 28.552′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Presidio of San Francisco. Marker can be reached from Coastal Trail. Marker is in the Battery Lancaster exhibit area of the Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point South overlook. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94129, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. All in a Day's Work (here, next to this marker); Hanging the Roadway Deck (here, next to this marker); Spinning the Main Cables (here, next to this marker); World's Tallest Bridge Towers (here, next to this marker); A Bathtub for the South Tower (here, next to this marker); Working Under Water (a few steps from this marker); Fort Point Arch (a few steps from this marker); Making the Impossible, Possible: The Story of the Golden Gate Bridge (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 179 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 6, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.