Carquinez 2nd Span

Work is starting on a replacement for the older of two spans that constitute the Carquinez Bridge in the north of San Francisco Bay, and which carry I-80 from Oakland in the direction of Sacramento and points east. FCI Constructors and Cleveland Bridge have the $188m contract for the 5-lane bridge, which is 1056m (3465') in total length. The central span is 728m (2390') and is the first serious suspension span to be started in the US in two decades (although another the Tacoma Narrows Second Bridge is close to beginning construction in the Seattle WA area.) The new Carquinez span for westbound traffic will be 25m (84') in width allowing 5-lanes plus shoulders each side, almost twice the deck width of the 1927 span it will replace, where 4-lanes are crammed into 14m (45'). The suspension bridge itself will be handsome, but the design clashes horribly with the remaining complex cantilever truss span carrying the eastbound traffic.

The toll plaza on the northern side of the bridge(s) has been the scene of the World’s Most Unsuccessful Attempt at ET Implementation – nearly 5 years effort and still not working to spec, says Caltrans. (Bridgetta Smith 925 942 6012)