Wikipedia

Richmond–San Rafael Bridge

"San Rafael Bridge" redirects here. For other uses, see San Rafael Bridge (disambiguation).

The Richmond–San Rafael Bridge (officially renamed the John F. McCarthy Memorial Bridge in 1981[3]) is the northernmost of the east–west crossings of California's San Francisco Bay, carrying Interstate 580 from Richmond on the east to San Rafael on the west. It opened in 1956, replacing ferry service by the Richmond–San Rafael Ferry Company,[4] and was officially renamed in 1981 to honor California State Senator John F. McCarthy, who championed the bridge's creation.[5]

Richmond–San Rafael Bridge
The Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, as seen from Mount Tamalpais, 2012
Coordinates37°56′05″N 122°26′02″W / 37.9347°N 122.4338°W / 37.9347; -122.4338
Carries
  • 4–5 lanes (2 upper deck, 2 lower deck during non-peak hours, 3 lower deck during peak hours) of I-580
  • Bicycles and pedestrians (non-peak hours only)
CrossesSan Francisco Bay
LocaleSan Rafael and Richmond, California
Official nameJohn F. McCarthy Memorial Bridge
Other name(s)Richmond Bridge
San Rafael Bridge
Named forJohn F. McCarthy
OwnerState of California
Maintained byCalifornia Department of Transportation and the Bay Area Toll Authority
ID number28 0100
Websitewww.bayareafastrak.org
Characteristics
DesignDouble-Decked Dual Cantilever bridge with Pratt Truss Approach
Total length29,040 ft (5.500 mi; 8.85 km)
Longest span326 m (1,070 ft) cantilever structure
No. of spans77 in total, consisting of:

19 girder spans (west)
14 truss spans (west)
3 spans (western cantilever)
9 truss spans (center)
3 spans (eastern cantilever)
12 truss spans (east)

17 girder spans (east)
Piers in water70[1]
Clearance below185 feet (56 m) (main channel)
135 feet (41 m) (secondary channel)
History
DesignerNorman Raab
Constructed byGerwick—Kiewit Joint Venture (substructure)
Kiewit—Soda—Judson Pacific-Murphy Joint Venture (superstructure)
Construction startMarch 1953
Construction costUS$62,000,000 (equivalent to $694,800,000 in 2023)
OpenedSeptember 1, 1956; 68 years ago (September 1, 1956)
Statistics
Daily traffic66,800 (2011)

67,800 (2012)
72,300 (2013)
75,600 (2014)

79,200 (2015)[2]
Toll
  • Westbound only
  • FasTrak or pay-by-plate, cash not accepted
  • Effective January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024 (2022-01-01 – 2024-12-31):
  • $7.00
  • $3.50 (carpool rush hours, FasTrak only)
Location
Map

History

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Early proposals

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Proposals for a bridge were advanced in the 1920s, preceding the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge. In 1927, Roy O. Long of The Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, Incorporated, applied for a franchise to construct and operate a private toll bridge. The proposed 1927 Long bridge would have been a steel suspension bridge, carrying a 30-foot-wide (9.1 m) roadway for a distance of 14,600 feet (4,500 m) at an estimated construction cost of US$12,000,000 (equivalent to $210,500,000 in 2023). The bridge would afford a maximum vertical clearance of 135 feet (41 m) with a 1,200-foot (370 m) main span.[6] Charles Derleth, Jr. was selected as the consulting engineer, after having served in that role for the recently completed Carquinez Bridge.[7] The Long bridge would have spanned San Pablo Bay between Point Orient (in Contra Costa County) to just below McNear's Point (in Marin County), and Long was granted the franchise in February 1928 by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors.[8]

A competing proposed bridge also came out in 1927, from Charles Van Damme of the Richmond-San Rafael Ferry Company. The 1927 Van Damme bridge would have carried a 27-foot-wide (8.2 m) roadway for a distance of 19,000 feet (5,800 m) at an identical estimated construction cost of US$12,000,000 (equivalent to $210,500,000 in 2023).[9] It would have spanned San Pablo Bay from Castro Point (Contra Costa County) to Point San Quentin (Marin County), approximately the same routing as the eventually completed 1956 bridge.[8] Although the 1927 Long bridge had been granted a franchise in February 1928, Van Damme subsequently petitioned to reopen the case, since the ferry company owned the land at the proposed eastern terminus and therefore should have been favored in the franchise selection process.[10] Also, since the ferry company's franchise rights were not set to expire until the 1950s, Long's 1927 bridge cost would have increased to reimburse losses to ferry revenues.[9] Soon after winning the franchise rights, Long approached Van Damme with an offer to buy the Richmond-San Rafael Ferry Company for US$1,250,000 (equivalent to $22,200,000 in 2023).[11]

Van Damme and Long later agreed in September 1928 to merge their interests for a combined bridge proposal between Point San Pablo (Contra Costa County) and McNear's Point (Marin County).[12] The combined project, now headed by Oscar Klatt for the American Toll Bridge Company, received approval for the routing from then-Secretary of War Good in May 1929, although vertical and horizontal clearances for the proposed bridge were not fully established at the time.[13] In November 1929, vertical clearance had been increased to 160 feet (49 m) to satisfy Navy requirements.[14] The construction permit was issued in February 1930.[15]

Klatt's 1929 bridge was dormant for nearly a decade following the issuance of a construction permit in 1930. An extension was filed in 1938 to allow construction to start as late as February 1942,[16] and fresh plans for a bridge district to facilitate financing were announced in 1939.[17] In 1947, interest was revived in bridging Marin and Contra Costa Counties.[18]

Tomasini's San Francisco–Alameda–Marin crossings

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A third bridge was proposed in late 1927 by the enigmatic T.A. Tomasini.[19] Tomasini's 1927 bridge called for two lanes of automobile traffic straddling a central rail line from San Pedro Hill (Marin) to San Pablo station (Contra Costa), a distance of over 5 miles (8.0 km).[20] In 1928, Tomasini presented a revised proposal for a bridge farther south than the other two bridges—spanning the water from Albany (in Alameda County) to Tiburon. The 1928 Tomasini Albany–Tiburon bridge was the longest of the three proposed bridges by a significant margin.[10][21] The proposed Albany–Tiburon bridge would have been similar in concept to the 1967 San Mateo–Hayward Bridge, with a high-level western section approximately 7,700 feet (2,300 m) long transitioning to a low-level eastern causeway. The western section featured two 1,000-foot-wide (300 m) spans to cross the navigation channels, with the western navigation span having a minimum vertical clearance of 150 feet (46 m) and the eastern navigation span having a minimum vertical clearance of 135 feet (41 m).[22] The 1,000-foot-wide (300 m) navigation channels for the proposed Albany–Tiburon bridge were opposed by shipping interests, who wanted the channels to be 1,500 feet (460 m) wide instead. The cost of the longer spans required would have made the proposed Albany–Tiburon bridge impractical, and Tomasini argued that "any mariner who could not negotiate a bridge such as proposed should lose his license."[23]

 
Tomasini's proposed 1928 San Francisco Bay crossings, shown in orange. Red bridges are those that were built, including the 1956 Richmond–San Rafael Bridge (1). 1937 Golden Gate Bridge (2), and 1936 San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (3) .
  1. Albany–Tiburon bridge
  2. Sausalito–Belvedere bridge
  3. San Francisco–Marin–Alameda tunnel & bridge

Tomasini would later add a bridge spanning Richardson Bay in March 1928 from Sausalito to Belvedere to his proposal.[12] The additional Sausalito–Belvedere bridge would have been 7,300 feet (2,200 m) long and 22 feet (6.7 m) wide with a lift span to allow the passage of large vessels, at an estimated cost of US$750,000 (equivalent to $13,300,000 in 2023).[24][25] Meanwhile, in April 1928 Tomasini recruited the prominent Ralph Modjeski to serve as the consulting head engineer for the proposed Albany–Tiburon span,[26] and Modjeski promptly complimented the plans that had been drawn up by Tomasini's chief engineer, Erle L. Cope.[25] The design for a lift span in the proposed Sausalito–Belvedere bridge was changed to a bascule after public comments were received from a local shipbuilder.[27] Tomasini received a permit for the Sausalito–Belvedere bridge from the War Department in December 1928.[28] Tomasini had planned to commence construction of the Sausalito–Belvedere bridge in July 1930,[29] but he was met with opposition from the Tiburon-Belvedere Chamber of Commerce, who felt the creation of a bridge would eliminate the promised San Francisco-Tiburon ferry service.[30] In 1931, the Richardson Bay Redwood Bridge was opened, which was the largest structure in the world constructed of redwood.[31] The Redwood Bridge carried the Redwood Highway (present-day US 101) and spanned the upper reach of Richardson Bay,[32] eliminating some of the need for the proposed Sausalito–Belvedere bridge. The Redwood Bridge would be replaced by a concrete structure in the 1950s.[33]

Tomasini continued to add to the project scope in July 1928 by proposing a bridge and tunnel to join San Francisco to the proposed Albany–Tiburon bridge. The tunnel would run roughly northeast from Bay Street and Grant Avenue, not far from present-day Pier 39, at a depth of 50 feet (15 m) below low tide water level for 11,200 feet (3,400 m). At that point, the tunnel would surface northwest of Goat Island, and then transition to a bridge nearly 4 miles (6.4 km) long with a minimum vertical clearance of 50 feet (15 m) and two lift spans connecting to the proposed Albany–Tiburon bridge. The cost of the entire project was US$55,670,000 (equivalent to $987,800,000 in 2023), split as US$20,000,000 (equivalent to $354,900,000 in 2023) for the Albany–Tiburon bridge, US$670,000 (equivalent to $11,900,000 in 2023) for the Sausalito–Belvedere bridge, and US$35,000,000 (equivalent to $621,000,000 in 2023) for the San Francisco–Marin–Alameda tunnel and bridge.[34] Tomasini organized each of the three proposed structures as independent projects, preferably to be built simultaneously, but in the event that one was not approved, it would not delay the construction of the other two.[34] San Francisco's board of supervisors rejected Tomasini's San Francisco–Marin–Alameda tunnel and bridge in September 1928, although the board's action was non-binding.[22]

 
Aerial photo of the bridge and the surrounding area

By February 1932, Tomasini's proposed Albany–Tiburon bridge had changed to a combination bridge—tunnel. The bridge portion was a low trestle approximately 19,800 feet (6,000 m) long, extending westward from Point Fleming in Albany in Alameda County. The proposed tunnel would have been 17,200 feet (5,200 m) long and ventilated by four towers, emerging at Bluff Point near Tiburon in Marin County.[35] Total estimated cost for the two structures was now US$35,000,000 (equivalent to $781,600,000 in 2023) and despite opposition from the US Navy, who cited potential navigation hazards,[36] the bridge—tunnel was approved by the War Department in July 1932.[35] Although he had the permit to begin work, Tomasini filed numerous annual extensions to retain the rights through 1941,[37] apparently due to a lack of funding to start work. Tomasini was still scrambling for funding in August 1941, seeking the issue of bonds worth US$20,000,000 (equivalent to $414,300,000 in 2023).[38] Tomasini lost the rights to the crossing in October 1941,[39] which was not the first time he was opposed by Earl Warren, who had questioned the validity of Tomasini's franchise as early as 1933.[40] Still, Tomasini was doggedly trying to advance his plans as late as 1948.[41]

Construction: 1953–1957

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Aerial photo of the bay

In 1949, the County of Marin and the City of Richmond commissioned a preliminary engineering report from Earl and Wright of San Francisco, which concluded that a bridge would be feasible.[42] A follow-up 1950 study, conducted by the Division of San Francisco Bay Toll Crossings, was commissioned by Marin County and the City of Richmond using US$200,000 (equivalent to $2,530,000 in 2023) in state funding. The 1950 report concluded the bridge could be built in accordance with the California Toll Bridge Authority Act.[42] The preliminary design was approved on August 8, 1951 and California approved the preliminary report on November 27, 1951. The California Toll Bridge Authority authorized the issue of US$72,000,000 (equivalent to $826,100,000 in 2023) in bonds on November 7, 1952 and subsequently sold US$62,000,000 (equivalent to $706,100,000 in 2023) on February 26, 1953 to construct a single-deck bridge. The remaining US$10,000,000 (equivalent to $113,900,000 in 2023) was reserved for construction contingencies and to complete the lower deck of the bridge.[43] The $62 million raised from bond sales was divided into three parts: US$50,000,000 (equivalent to $569,400,000 in 2023) for construction, US$10,000,000 (equivalent to $113,900,000 in 2023) to address interest obligations on the bonds during the construction period, and US$2,000,000 (equivalent to $22,800,000 in 2023) in construction contingency.[43] In 1954, Governor Knight declared the second deck should not be delayed in the public interest, and US$6,000,000 (equivalent to $68,200,000 in 2023) was loaned from the State School Land Fund in 1955 to complete the second deck. The bridge was finished $4 million under budget.[44]

During the study period, an earth and rock-fill bridge with lift structures was considered, but the high-level bridge was chosen as the cost of a low bridge with navigation locks and lifting structures was prohibitive.[42]

The majority of construction costs were tied up in two contracts that opened for bidding on December 19, 1952. The first contract, for the substructure, was awarded to the low bidder, the Ben C. Gerwick, Inc. — Peter Kiewit Sons' Co. Joint Venture for US$14,234,550 (equivalent to $162,100,000 in 2023). The second contract, for the superstructure, was awarded to the low bid of US$21,099,319 (equivalent to $240,300,000 in 2023) by a joint venture between Peter Kiewit Sons' Co. — A. Soda & Son — Judson Pacific Murphy Corp.[42] The substructure construction moved rapidly, with an estimated 45% of piers completed approximately a year after the contract was awarded.[1]

The bridge with the upper deck was opened in 1956. It was dedicated on August 31, and opened for traffic on September 1 with one traffic lane per direction.[45] At the time, it was the world's second-longest bridge, behind the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge,[46] as well as the longest continuous steel bridge.[47] The lower deck opened on August 20, 1957, at which point there were three lanes of traffic per direction.[48][49]

Historical notes

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Originally a part of State Route 17, the bridge is now part of Interstate 580.

Upon its opening, the Richmond–San Rafael bridge was the last bridge across San Francisco Bay to replace a previous ferry service, leaving the Benicia–Martinez Ferry across Carquinez Strait as the only remaining auto ferry in the Bay Area (it would be replaced by a bridge in 1962).

Description

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Bridges in the San Francisco Bay
 
Vertical undulation of the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge between the two cantilever spans

The bridge—including approaches—measures 5.5 miles (29,040 feet / 8,851.39 m / 8.9 km) long. At the time it was built, it was one of the world's longest bridges. The bridge spans two ship channels and has two separate main cantilever spans. Both main cantilever spans are raised to allow ship traffic to pass, and in between, there is a "dip" in the elevation of the center section,[50] giving the bridge a vertical undulation or "roller coaster" appearance and also the nickname "roller coaster span". To save money, the cantilever main spans share identical symmetric designs, so the "uphill" grade on the approach required for the elevated span is duplicated on the other "downhill" side, resulting in a depressed center truss section.[51] In addition, because the navigation channels are not parallel to each other, the bridge also does not follow a straight line.[52] This appearance has also been referred to as a "bent coat hanger".[44]

After it was completed, many were disappointed by the appearance of the bridge;[53] Frank Lloyd Wright, a famous designer who was not an engineer, reportedly called for it to be destroyed[54] due to its ugliness, and complained that it was "the most awful thing I've ever seen" during its construction in 1953.[55] Contrariwise, the neighboring Golden Gate Bridge, and the western span of the Bay Bridge, had been considered engineering and historical marvels. However, the project's senior engineers were the same ones who had worked on the Bay Bridge,[56] with their design reflecting lessons they had learned from doing so.[57]

From west (Point San Quentin) to east (Castro Point), the bridge consists of:[58][1]

  • A 2,845-foot (867 m) trestle structure supported by fifty-seven bents. The upper deck is 2,845 feet (867 m), and the lower deck is slightly longer at 3,635 feet (1,108 m).
  • 1,900 feet (580 m) of girder spans, consisting of nineteen 100-foot (30 m) girder spans
  • 4,125 feet (1,257 m) of truss spans, divided into fourteen trusses each 292 feet (89 m) long, on average.
  • The western 2,145-foot (654 m) cantilever structure, with arms measuring 538 feet (164 m) each flanking a central span of 1,070 feet (330 m). The western cantilever span is the main 1,070-foot-wide (330 m) navigation channel and features a vertical clearance of 185 feet (56 m).
  • 2,955 feet (901 m) of truss spans, consisting of ten spans each 292 feet (89 m) long, on average.
  • The eastern 2,145-foot (654 m) cantilever structure, with arms measuring 538 feet (164 m) each flanking a central span of 1,070 feet (330 m). The eastern cantilever span is the secondary 1,070-foot-wide (330 m) navigation channel and features a reduced vertical clearance of 135 feet (41 m).
  • 3,505 feet (1,068 m) of truss spans, consisting of twelve spans each 292 feet (89 m) long, on average.
  • 1,715 feet (523 m) of 100-foot (30 m) girder spans
 
Looking southwest from above Richmond

Excluding approaches, the bridge structures comprise a total length of 21,335 feet (6,503 m) on the upper deck and 22,125 feet (6,744 m) on the lower deck. Despite the varying height of the bridge, roadway grades are limited to 3% or less.[42][1] As completed, the bridge has two decks each capable of carrying three lanes of traffic. As of 2020, westbound traffic rides on the upper deck and is marked with two lanes of vehicle traffic, as well as a pedestrian/bicycle path separated from vehicles by a movable barrier. Eastbound traffic rides on the lower deck and features two lanes of vehicle traffic as well as a third lane that is activated during evening commute hours and serves as a shoulder when not in use. The extra lane features lights indicating that the lane is open or closed.[59] The third lane has been used for various purposes other than traffic, such as carrying a water pipeline during a drought.

The bridge stands on 79 reinforced concrete piers supported on steel H-piles. Nine piers stand on land, eight are in cofferdams near the Contra Costa terminus, and the remaining 62 are bell-type piers with a flared base.[1] The original deck was a 5.5-inch (140 mm) thick reinforced concrete slab, with a mortar wearing surface 0.5 inches (13 mm) thick.[60] To facilitate maintenance, the bridge was designed with two 2.5 inches (64 mm) lines (carrying compressed air and potable water) extending from end to end. Each deck was also equipped with three overhead maintenance tracks.[60]

Public transit service

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Golden Gate Transit bus route 580 provides public transportation across the bridge. Formerly route 40, it runs between the San Rafael Transit Center and the El Cerrito del Norte BART station.[61] Golden Gate Transit Route 42, which provided service to Richmond BART/Amtrak station, was folded into route 40 in December 2015 that was later redesignated line 580, after the freeway on which it crosses the bay.[62]

Tolls

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Toll plaza at Richmond in 2006 before newest reconstruction

Tolls are only collected from westbound traffic headed to San Rafael at the toll plaza on the east side of the bridge. All-electronic tolling has been in effect since 2020, and drivers may either pay using the FasTrak electronic toll collection device, using the license plate tolling program, or via a one time payment online. Effective January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024 (2022-01-01 – 2024-12-31), the toll rate for passenger cars is $7. During peak traffic hours, carpool vehicles carrying three or more people, clean air vehicles, or motorcycles may pay a discounted toll of $3.50 if they have FasTrak and use the designated carpool lane. Drivers must pay within 48 hours after crossing the bridge or they will be sent a toll violation invoice. No additional fees will be added to the toll violation if it is paid within 21 days.[63]

Historical toll rates

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The following initial toll rates were adopted on July 10, 1956, prior to the opening of the bridge:

Inaugural toll schedule[43]
Vehicle type Axles/trailers Toll
Class 1[a] vehicle alone US$0.75 (equivalent to $8.41 in 2023)[b]
Commutation book[c][d] US$18.75 (equivalent to $210.13 in 2023)
with 1-axle trailer US$1.25 (equivalent to $14.01 in 2023)
with 2-axle trailer US$1.50 (equivalent to $16.81 in 2023)
Truck[e] 2-axle US$1.25 (equivalent to $14.01 in 2023)
3-axle US$1.75 (equivalent to $19.61 in 2023)
4-axle US$2.50 (equivalent to $28.02 in 2023)
5-axle US$3.00 (equivalent to $33.62 in 2023)
6-axle US$3.50 (equivalent to $39.22 in 2023)
7-axle US$4.00 (equivalent to $44.83 in 2023)
Bus 2-axle US$1.50 (equivalent to $16.81 in 2023)
3-axle US$1.75 (equivalent to $19.61 in 2023)
Other vehicles not specified above US$5.00 (equivalent to $56.03 in 2023)
Inaugural toll table notes
  1. ^ Class 1 vehicles are defined as: automobiles, motorcycles, tri-cars, light delivery automobiles, ambulances, hearses, housecars, noncommercial trucks, station wagons, and taxis.
  2. ^ Motorcycle toll was initially proposed as US$0.25 (equivalent to $2.8 in 2023), but Norman Raab successfully argued the tight pants worn by motorcyclists meant the driver would have to dismount to retrieve the coins for the toll.[64]
  3. ^ Commutation books were sold with 50 one-way tickets good for a single passage at any time during the two consecutive calendar months, or fractional part thereof, for which sold.
  4. ^ Any Class 1 vehicle, with the exception of light delivery automobiles and noncommercial trucks, was eligible for the commutation book.
  5. ^ A truck shall include a truck-tractor, or any combination of truck, truck-tractor and trailer or semitrailer
 
Westbound terminus of the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge in sunset, 2006

The basic toll (for automobiles) on the seven state bridges, including the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, was raised to $1 by Regional Measure 1, approved by Bay Area voters in 1988.[65] A $1 seismic retrofit surcharge was added in 1998 by the state legislature, originally for eight years, but since then extended to December 2037 (AB1171, October 2001).[66] On March 2, 2004, voters approved Regional Measure 2, raising the toll by another dollar to a total of $3. An additional dollar was added to the toll starting January 1, 2007, to cover cost overruns concerning the replacement of the eastern span.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission, a regional transportation agency, in its capacity as the Bay Area Toll Authority, administers RM1 and RM2 funds, allocating a significant portion to public transit capital improvements and operating subsidies in the transportation corridors the bridges serve. Caltrans administers the "second dollar" seismic surcharge, and receives some of the MTC-administered funds to perform other maintenance work on the bridges. The Bay Area Toll Authority is made up of appointed officials put in place by various city and county governments, and is not subject to direct voter oversight.[67]

Due to further funding shortages for seismic retrofit projects, the Bay Area Toll Authority again raised tolls on all seven of the state-owned bridges in July 2010. The toll rate for autos on the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge was thus increased to $5.[68]

In June 2018, Bay Area voters approved Regional Measure 3 to further raise the tolls on all seven of the state-owned bridges to fund $4.5 billion worth of transportation improvements in the area.[69][70] Under the passed measure, the toll rate for autos on the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge will be increased to $6 on January 1, 2019; to $7 on January 1, 2022; and then to $8 on January 1, 2025.[71]

In September 2019, the MTC approved a $4 million plan to eliminate toll takers and convert all seven of the state-owned bridges to all-electronic tolling, citing that 80 percent of drivers are now using Fastrak and the change would improve traffic flow.[72] On March 20, 2020, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, all-electronic tolling was placed in effect for all seven state-owned toll bridges.[73] The MTC then installed new systems at all seven bridges to make them permanently cashless by the start of 2021.[74] In April 2022, the Bay Area Toll Authority announced plans to remove all remaining unused toll booths and create an open-road tolling system which functions at highway speeds.[75]

Improvements

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Seismic retrofit

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Comparison of piers at eastern cantilever span in 2003 before reconstruction (top) and at western cantilever span in 2011 after reconstruction (bottom).

In the fall of 2001, the bridge commenced an extensive seismic retrofit program,[76] similar to other bridges in the area.[77] The retrofit was designed by a three-way joint venture between Gerwick/Sverdrup/DMJM under a US$19,000,000 (equivalent to $38,000,000 in 2023) design contract awarded in 1995.[78] The retrofit is intended to allow the two-tier bridge to withstand a 7.4 magnitude earthquake on the Hayward Fault and an 8.3 magnitude quake on the San Andreas Fault. The foundation piers were strengthened by wrapping the lower section of structural steel in a concrete casing, installing new shear piles, and adding bracing to the structural steel towers.[79] Isolation joints and bearings were also added to the main bridge structures (cantilever spans over the navigation channels) to strengthen the structure.[80]

The fifty-year-old bridge was showing its age and also needed age-related maintenance, which was performed in conjunction with the seismic upgrade work. There were reports of cars being damaged while traveling on the lower deck by fist-sized concrete chunks falling from the joints of upper deck slabs.

A major part of the retrofit involved the long concrete causeway on the Marin side, which as part of the retrofit program, was nearly completely replaced. Because of the active use of the bridge, Caltrans designed the project to allow the bridge to remain open to traffic. For economy, schedule efficiency and traffic impact mitigation, much of the repair work was fabricated off site and shipped to the bridge by barge.

To reduce impacts to traffic the major work was performed at night. Caltrans kept two lanes of traffic moving in each direction during daylight hours, then reduced that flow to a single lane in each direction at night. Thus, one trestle was completely closed, and the other trestle had two-way traffic.

The concrete segments of the trestle were precast in Petaluma and barged to the site. At monthly intervals, tugs positioned barges with one or two 100-foot-long (30 m), 500-ton pre-cast concrete roadway segments, which a 900-ton barge-mounted crane lifted into place. Earlier, either two or four of the corroded, 50-foot (15 m) concrete segments of the old roadway were removed by crane. Then, a pile driver moved into position and drove new piles. After the new concrete road segment was in place, steel plates were used to temporarily fill the gaps, and the roadway was ready for morning traffic. At times, construction backed up traffic to Highway 101 into central San Rafael.

The completion of this retrofit, on September 22, 2005, was celebrated as a success despite the many challenges, including the deaths of two workers.

The retrofit was originally estimated by Caltrans engineers at US$329,000,000 (equivalent to $601,700,000 in 2023),[77] but Caltrans adjusted the estimate to US$393,272,000 (equivalent to $695,800,000 in 2023) in 2000 during the bidding process.[81] While most of the resulting bids were close to US$545,000,000 (equivalent to $964,300,000 in 2023), the low bid came in at US$484,403,479 (equivalent to $857,000,000 in 2023) from the Tutor-Saliba/Koch/Tidewater Joint Venture.[81] Caltrans revised their estimate to US$665,000,000 (equivalent to $1,144,300,000 in 2023) in May 2001 when more funds were appropriated for California's Toll Bridge Seismic Retrofit Program in Assembly Bill 1171.[82] The cost was again adjusted during an August 2004 review by Caltrans, this time to US$914,000,000 (equivalent to $1,474,400,000 in 2023).[83] The final cost of the retrofit, however, was $778 million, or $136 million below this August 2004 estimate.[83]

Third lanes

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The protected bike/pedestrian path on the upper deck of the bridge

In both directions, the bridge is wide enough to accommodate three lanes of traffic. The bridge previously operated with all three lanes in both directions opened to traffic after the lower deck was completed in 1957.[48][49] Currently the third lane on the lower deck is used as a right-hand shoulder or a "breakdown lane" and is marked along the bridge with the signs "Emergency Parking Only". The third lane on the upper deck is a separated bicycle and pedestrian path.[84]

In 1977, Marin County was suffering one of its worst droughts in history. A temporary on-surface pipeline, six miles (10 km) long, was placed in the third lane. The pipe transferred 8,000,000 gallons of water a day from the East Bay Municipal Utility District's mains in Richmond to Marin's 170,000 residents. By 1978, the drought subsided and the pipeline was removed. The disused third lane was then restriped as a shoulder.

In 1989, after the Loma Prieta earthquake, the third lane was opened up as a normal lane to accommodate increased traffic after the Bay Bridge was shut down because of a failure of that span.[citation needed] Many commuters from San Francisco drove across the Golden Gate Bridge into Marin and then across the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge to go to Oakland (and vice versa). After the Bay Bridge was reopened, the third lane was again closed.

On February 11, 2015, the Bay Area Toll Authority approved a plan to install a protected bike and pedestrian path on the wide shoulder of the upper deck of the bridge. The path was expected to be complete in 2017,[84] however it opened on November 16, 2019.[85] As part of the same project, a third eastbound lane[86] was added the previous year on the lower deck to be available for evening commutes.[59]

 
View from the east end of the bridge (Richmond) looking southwest toward Southern Marin. San Quentin State Prison is at the far end of the bridge (San Rafael), just beyond the edge of the picture on the right. Top right above the bridge is Mount Tamalpais. The broken pilings in the water in the middle left of the picture are the remains of the pier where the Richmond–San Rafael ferry docked before the bridge was built.

Closures

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Like most San Francisco Bay bridges, the Richmond–San Rafael is subject to closure in the event of strong crosswinds. The bridge has been closed due to wind at least three times: in 1963,[87] in the late '70s,[citation needed] and in 2008.[88][89]

On February 7, 2019, the bridge was closed for several hours due to concrete falling from the upper deck to the lower.[90]

On July 21, 2023, the bridge was closed in the eastbound direction for more than 19 hours due to a disturbed person on the bridge; the goal of this closure was to "not cause him to jump off or cause him to fall into the water and also keeping that communication open." The bridge reopened following the man's rescue.[91]

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The novel Abuse of Power by Michael Savage has several important scenes set on the bridge. In one, the hero Jack Hatfield escapes his enemies by climbing the work ladders built into the piers. In the film Magnum Force, the bridge is in the background when Dirty Harry and the rookie cop are on motorcycles on the ship's decks where they attempt to subdue each other.[92] The bridge is also visible in the 1982 film 48 Hours.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Raab, Norman A. (March–April 1954). "Pier Construction: Rapid Progress on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Project" (PDF). California Highways and Public Works. 33 (3–4). California Department of Public Works: 20–25, 32–33, 64. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  2. ^ Prado, Mark (August 9, 2015). "Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Traffic volume hits five-year high". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  3. ^ 2013 Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances in California, California Department of Transportation, 2021
  4. ^ Snodgrass, Marion Myers; Dunning, Judith K (1992). "Changes in the Richmond Waterfront". Memories of the Richmond-San Rafael Ferry Company. Berkeley, Calif.: Bancroft Library. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
  5. ^ Mara, Janis (September 22, 2014). "Ode to John F. McCarthy, creator of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge". The Mercury News.
  6. ^ "Bridge Hearing Put Over Till Monday, 11th". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIII, no. 15. April 9, 1927. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  7. ^ "Propose to Construct Steel Bridge Over San Pablo Bay". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIII, no. 9. February 26, 1927. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Local News". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 6. February 11, 1928. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Ferry Head to Apply for Span Permit". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIII, no. 53. December 31, 1927. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "One Bridge Gets Franchise, Other Given Rehearing". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 13. March 31, 1928. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  11. ^ "Richmond Ferry is Sold to Bridge Co". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 8. February 25, 1928. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Rivals Agree On Contra Costa to Marin Crossing". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 38. September 28, 1928. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "Bay Span Plan Gets Approval". Madera Tribune. United Press Dispatch. May 13, 1929. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  14. ^ "Favorable Bridge Plans are Filed". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXXV, no. 47. November 22, 1929. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  15. ^ "Bay Bridge Permit Given". Madera Tribune. United Press Dispatch. February 11, 1929. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  16. ^ "Bridge Franchise Extension Asked". Sausalito News. Vol. LIII, no. 42. October 20, 1938. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  17. ^ "Richmond-S.R. Bridge Plan Under Way". Sausalito News. Vol. LIV, no. 16. April 20, 1939. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  18. ^ "Revive Richmond-S.R. Bridge Plan". Sausalito News. Vol. 62, no. 43. September 18, 1947. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  19. ^ Thomas A. Tomasini, resident in San Francisco, is also noted as the inventor of the 1916 US 1200049  "Automobile Spring" as well as being a participant in the 1915 automobile Vanderbilt Cup Race, where he did not start due to crashing in practice.
  20. ^ "Span Interests Eastern Capital". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIII, no. 51. December 17, 1927. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  21. ^ "Battle Expected Against Bay Span". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 2. January 14, 1928. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  22. ^ a b "S.F. Turns Down Span Connection to Marin County". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 37. September 21, 1928. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  23. ^ "Shipping Men Try to Block Tomasini Bay Bridge Plan". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 41. October 19, 1928. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  24. ^ "Belvedere Bridge Could be Erected by Summer of '29". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 11. March 17, 1928. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  25. ^ a b "Belvedere Span Hearing is Set". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 16. April 21, 1928. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  26. ^ "Tomasini Signs Up Modjeski for Tiburon Bridge". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 15. April 14, 1928. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  27. ^ "S.F. Delays Plan of Tomasini for North Bay Bridge". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 36. September 14, 1928. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  28. ^ "Tomasini Gets Sausalito-Belvedere Bridge Permit". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 51. December 28, 1928. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  29. ^ "Tomasini to Start Construction Work on Richardson Bay". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXVI, no. 26. June 27, 1930. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  30. ^ "Tiburon-Belvedere Now Doesn't Want Tomasini Crossing". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXVI, no. 28. July 11, 1930. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  31. ^ "Plan is Perfected for South Marin Highway Affair". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXVII, no. 46. November 13, 1931. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  32. ^ Wood, Jim (May 2009). "History of a Highway: Marin's 101 was first established in 1909". Marin Magazine. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  33. ^ Prado, Mark (March 23, 2011). "Moving Marin: The enormous role of bridges, ferries, trains, highways". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  34. ^ a b "Plans Marin-S.F. Connection with Bridge and Tube". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXIV, no. 27. July 13, 1928. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  35. ^ a b "Approve Bay Bridge Plan". Madera Daily Tribune and Madera Mercury. Vol. LX, no. 63. July 16, 1932. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  36. ^ "Tomasini's Bridge Plan Protested". Sausalito News. Vol. XXXXVIII, no. 14. April 1, 1932. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  37. ^ "Tomasini Bridge Permit Extension Again Asked". Sausalito News. Vol. LV, no. 48. December 5, 1940. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  38. ^ "20 Million Bond Issue Sought for Span-Tube". Sausalito News. Vol. LVI, no. 34. August 21, 1941. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  39. ^ "Rights to Span Tube Lost by Tomasini". Sausalito News. Vol. LVI, no. 40. October 2, 1941. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  40. ^ "Tomasini Says He Is Going to Build Span". Sausalito News. Vol. XLVIII, no. 14. April 7, 1933. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  41. ^ "Richardson Bay Bridge Plan Again Revived". Sausalito News. Vol. 63, no. 51. December 16, 1948. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  42. ^ a b c d e Raab, Norman A. (November–December 1953). "New Bay Crossing: Story of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge" (PDF). California Highways and Public Works. 32 (11–12). California Department of Public Works: 1–6, 64. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  43. ^ a b c Raab, Norman C. (July–August 1956). "Record Span New Crossing: Richmond-San Rafael Bridge About Ready for Traffic" (PDF). California Highways and Public Works. 35 (7–8). California Department of Public Works: 1–4, 22. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  44. ^ a b "Bridging the Bay: Bridging the Campus - Richmond-San Rafael". UC Berkeley Library. December 22, 1999. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  45. ^ "Span Open Month Early". San Francisco Examiner. August 30, 1956. p. 54. Retrieved July 23, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  46. ^ "Frisco Adds Another Bridge To Skyline". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. August 16, 1956. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  47. ^ "Straits Bridge Claim Challenged on Coast". The Milwaukee Journal. June 24, 1958. Retrieved March 1, 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  48. ^ a b "Span Work Completed". San Francisco Examiner. August 18, 1957. p. 21. Retrieved July 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  49. ^ a b "Bridge deck opens". The Press-Tribune. August 20, 1957. p. 2. Retrieved July 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  50. ^ Seim, Chuck (2013). "Charles Seim: The Bay Bridge Oral History Project" (PDF) (Interview). Interviewed by Sam Redman. Berkeley: The Bancroft Library, University of California. p. 21. Retrieved February 6, 2015. When it comes to the Richmond-San Rafael designed by Norman C. Raab, first of all, it zigzags because of the two alignments of the navigation channels. It goes up, and then it sags down, and then it goes up. The cardinal rule of aesthetics in a bridge is it has to soar. You can't sag it in the middle. The other is it connects from here to there as a straight line or as a curve line. You don't make an "S" out of it. Those violate both of those very strong principles. This engineer [Raab] was soundly criticized for creating this ugly bridge. Of course, his defense was, "I saved a million dollars by putting the sag in it." Which is probably true.
  51. ^ Prado, Mark (September 1, 2006). "With little fanfare..." Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  52. ^ Interview with Chuck Seim (2013), p. 8 & 30. "Now, the twin spans, they were spanned by what we call a steel cantilever span. But the interesting thing is that these shipping channels were not parallel to one another. They angled."
  53. ^ Interview with Chuck Seim (2013), p. 20. "Of course, everybody criticized the truss bridge on the Richmond-San Rafael, that Raab designed and they said, 'We don't want an ugly truss here.' [...] Well, if you had to award the ugliest bridge in the world, I think the Richmond-San Rafael would certainly be in the running. If not the first one, then top three. It is an ugly bridge. But that's a story that maybe we shouldn't get into. It was driven by economics, and it was driven by the obstinance of this one engineer that I referred to. He wouldn't change. He then proposed a truss for the Hayward area, and everybody said, 'No, we don't want that. It's an ugly bridge.' He said, 'Well, it's the most economical.'"
  54. ^ Lin, TY (1999). "VIII Developing Prestressed Concrete Technology: The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge: Misjudgment to Save Money". ""The Father of Prestressed Concrete": Teaching Engineers, Bridging Rivers and Borders, 1931 to 1999" (Interview). Interviewed by Eleanor Swent. Berkeley: The Regents of the University of California. Retrieved February 24, 2016. Lin: So, one architect asked [Wright], "What do you think of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge?" "I think it should be sabotaged!" He meant that it should be bombed, it's so ugly looking.
  55. ^ "Architect Chides Design Of New North Bay Bridge". Santa Cruz Sentinel. AP. May 1, 1953. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  56. ^ Interview with Chuck Seim (2013), pp. 8–10. "Everybody working on that bridge - I think it's safe to say all the higher-echelon engineers - were the same engineers that worked on the San Francisco Bay Bridge. I had a chance to work with engineers who actually worked on the San Francisco Bay Bridge, and I used to read about that when I was a kid."
  57. ^ Interview with Chuck Seim (2013), p. 30. "In 1956, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge was opened. An interesting thing about that is that most of the senior engineers that worked on the Bay Bridge stayed over in San Francisco and worked on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, because they both used the same technology, with some minor variations."
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  69. ^ Cabanatuan, Michael (June 6, 2018). "Regional Measure 3: Work on transportation improvements could start next year". SFGate.com.
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  82. ^ California State Assembly. " Session of the Legislature". Session of the Legislature. Statutes of California. State of California. Ch. 907 p. 7396. "Assembly Bill 1171" (PDF). California Legislative Information. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  83. ^ a b California Department of Transportation. "Toll Bridge Seismic Retrofit Program Report, Second Quarter 2005" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  84. ^ a b Rivera, Renee. "Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Bike Path approved". bikeeastbay.org. East Bay Bicycle Coalition. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  85. ^ "Long-awaited Richmond-San Rafael Bridge transbay bike lane opens – The Mercury News". November 17, 2019.
  86. ^ Prado, Mark (February 11, 2015). "Big changes planned for Richmond-San Rafael Bridge". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  87. ^ "Storm, Wind Lash Bay City". San Bernardino Sun. AP. January 31, 1963. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
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  90. ^ Falling concrete closes Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in both directions February 7, 2019
  91. ^ Bay City News (July 22, 2023). "Eastbound Richmond-San Rafael Bridge reopens after 19-hour traffic nightmare". NBC Bay Area. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  92. ^ Scene 34. Not Enough Experience. Magnum Force
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