Cars crossing the Golden Gate bridge, one of the most photographed worldwide, even if it is no longer the longest suspension bridge. Photo: Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
The construction of the Golden Gate Bridge was a daring project that many doubted possible, given the bay's perilous currents and the distance needing to be crossed.
The bridge is named after the almost two-kilometre stretch of the Pacific from San Francisco to the headland opposite in Marin County.
Engineers questioned whether the project was even possible, as the bridge would need to be 200m longer than all known suspension constructions that the world had seen so far.
It was thanks to one man's bold design and persuasive powers that the bridge was ever built.
Joseph Baermann Strauss, born in 1870 in Ohio, managed to overcome the many doubts of ferrymen, financiers and politicians, despite the prevailing economic problems of the Great Depression.
Construction on the famous San Francisco landmark began on Jan 5, 1933.
"The construction was finished in just under four and a half years. It was built ahead of schedule and just under budget," says Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, spokesperson for the bridge. "Simply incredible."
It cost US$35mil (RM154mil) to build the bridge at the time, the equivalent of US$500mil (RM2.2bil) today. It would cost far more to build it now, says Cosulich-Schwartz.
"At last the mighty task is done," Strauss, a descendant of German immigrants, declared at the opening ceremony on May 27, 1937, when 200,000 people walked across the brand new Golden Gate Bridge.
Strauss died less than a year later, of a heart attack at 69. But his marvel lives on. It is anchored by two huge piers based in the seabed at the south and north ends of the bay.
Many doubted the Golden Gate Bridge could be built at all, as it was to be longer than any other worldwide. Photo: Associated Oil Company/Golden Gate Bridge/Highway and Transportation District/dpa
Builders battled high waves and powerful currents to build the towers that rise 227m above the water surface.
The two mighty main cables – almost one metre thick in diameter and spun from 129,000km of wire – hold the roadway and two walkways and cycle paths in suspension.
The Golden Gate Bridge stretches 2,737m if you include the approach and descent.
With the span between the piers measuring 1,280m, it held the title of the world's longest suspension bridge for many years.
And even though that record was eventually overtaken by others, the Golden Gate Bridge remains one of the most photographed bridges in the world.
That is partly thanks to its famous reddish shade, known as "International Orange", that lends the Art Deco towers even greater elegance. And it is widely used, crossed by more than 100,000 cars and thousands of pedestrians and cyclists every day.
When the winds are strongest, the structure can swing several metres sideways, as well as up and down.
But it has only ever had to close three times, due to extremely powerful storms.
The landmark's biggest stress test came on its 50th birthday in 1987, when 300,000 people poured onto the bridge from both sides, far more than expected, squeezing the carriageway.
The bridge survived thanks to its sturdy construction but engineers were concerned.
"It's safe to say we will never allow pedestrians in that uncontrolled way on the roadway again. Don't get your hopes up for the 100th anniversary," says Cosulich-Schwartz.
Strauss was not only a daring engineer, he was also highly concerned about safety.
He demanded that a costly safety net be in place for the installation of the suspension cables – which caught 19 workers who otherwise might have fallen to their deaths.
All joked at the time that they now belonged to the "halfway to hell" club.
In total, 11 workers lost their lives, far fewer than was generally the case for major construction projects at the time.
People still die on the bridge, with some 2,000 people having taken their own lives, jumping from a height of almost 70m, according to the Rail Bridge Foundation, which has long campaigned for protection.
Police officers and patrols who are regularly on the bridge manage to persuade 85% of people against jumping, says Cosulich-Schwartz.
But in 2021 alone, the bridge operators say 25 people jumped to their deaths over the 1.2m railing, with the true number likely much higher. A system is now being built to prevent people from falling, after decades of discussing the issue.
"The current expected completion date to have the nets in place along the entire length is the end of 2023," says Cosulich-Schwartz.
The bridge council had approved protective steel nets in 2014 but the project is expensive and kept getting delayed and costs soared.
Construction efforts are already under way, 7m below the footpath. Sticking out on both sides of the bridge, the net is barely visible to walkers however. Jumping into the net could cause injuries, but saves lives, says Cosulich-Schwartz. – dpa
