Golden Gate Bridge

For over twenty-five years, the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world.  With a main span of 4200 feet, it is now the tenth longest span.  Built during the Depression and opened to traffic in 1937, the bridge has a 60 foot wide roadway and a clearance of 220 feet above the strait.  The towers soar 500 feet above the deck and stand 746 feet above the water.

Clouds over Marin County and fog over San Francisco

The white tower on the left supports the new East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

The small arch spans the historic Fort Point

We crossed the bridge during Labor Day weekend of 2013.  The Bay Bridge was closed for the weekend to prepare the temporary approaches to the new East Span.  The closure forced many drivers to detour over the Golden Gate Bridge.  To avoid distracted driving, I was a passenger while making the crossing.

Approaching the bridge

The concrete structures are part of the Marin cable anchorages

On the bridge

Approaching the north tower

Under the north tower

Art Deco styling of the north tower

On the 4,200 foot long main span

Approaching the center of the span

The south tower

One of the south cable anchorages

The toll for crossing the bridge southbound into San Francisco is $6 or $5 for those with a transponder.  No toll is levied in the northbound direction.  Bicycle and pedestrian passage is free.

The website for the Golden Gate Bridge is http://goldengatebridge.org/.
The website for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is http://www.nps.gov/goga/index.htm.