GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE FACTS
GLOSSARY/ BRIDGE TERMS
Abutment - A structure that supports the end of a bridge or a structure that anchors the cables of a suspension bridge.
Anchorage – The support structure for anchoring and holding the cable ends of a suspension bridge.
Arch – A structural device, forming the curved, pointed or flat upper edge of an opening or a support, as in a bridge.
Balustrade – A rail and row of posts (balusters) that support it, along the edge.
Box grinder – Deep hollow box beam which can have a rectangular or trapezoidal cross section.
Caisson – A watertight structure.
Chord – The top or bottom, horizontal part of a truss.
Cutwater – The end of a pier base that is pointed to cleave the water.
Eyebar – Unit from which the cables of a suspension bridge are constructed with a flattened ring at each end for linkages.
Flange – The top or bottom plate of a box girder or I-beam.
Girder – A large or deep horizontal beam, used as a main support for vertical loads.
Gusset plates – Triangular inserts, for strengthening and enlarging.
Hangers – Wires or bars from which the deck is hung on a suspension bridge, also known as suspenders.
I-beam – Beam or girder with an I shaped cross-section.
Mid-span – Spot where the main cables reach their lowest point.
Orthotropic – Tending to grow or form along a vertical axis.
Pier – A supporting structure at the junction of connecting spans of a bridge
Plate girder – Flat bridge deck with a shallow rectangular section.
Pylon – Vertical mast or tower above the bridge deck to which the cable stays are fixed.
Side spans – Outer or end spans of a suspension bridge from the tower to the anchorage, balancing the central suspended span.
Stay – To brace or support.
Stiffening truss – Truss supporting the entire deck of a suspension bridge.
Stringer – A long, heavy horizontal timber or steel beam used for any of several corrective or supportive purposes.
Strut – A bar or rod used to strengthen a framework by resisting longitudinal thrust.
Suspension bridge – A bridge with its deck supported by large cables draped from towers.
Tower – Vertical support structure of a suspension bridge from which the cables are hung.
Truss – A frame of tension and compression members, which together make up a long span beam.
Viaduct – Series of spans or arches used to carry a road or railroad over other roads or valleys.
Web – One of the side plates of a box grinder on the vertical plate of an I-beam.
APPENDIX B:
BRIDGE STATISTICS
THE BASICS
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Total length of bridge, including approaches 8,981 ft. (1.7 mi.) 2,737 m.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Length of suspension span including main
span and side spans 6,450 ft. (1.2 mi.) 1,966 m.
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Length of suspension span excluding side spans 4,200 ft. 1,280 m.
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Length of one side span 1,125 ft. 343 m.
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Width of bridge 90 ft. 27 m.
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Width of roadway between curbs * 62 ft. 19 m.
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Width of sidewalk 10 ft. 3 m.
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Clearance above mean high water 220 ft. 67 m.
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Deepest foundation below mean low water 110 ft. 34 m.
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Live load capacity per lineal foot 4,000 lbs. 1814.14 kg.
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Maximum transverse deflection at center span 27.7 ft. 8.4 m.
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Maximum downward deflection at center span 10.8 ft. 3.3 m.
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Maximum upward deflection at center span 5.8 ft. 1.8 m.
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Total weight of each anchorage 60,000 tons 109,000,000 kg.
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Total weight of bridge, anchorages and
approaches (1937) 894,500 tons 811,500,000 kg.
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Total weight of bridge, anchorages and
approaches (1986) ** 887,000 tons 804,700,000 kg.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Weight of bridge not including anchorages
and approaches (1986) ** 419,800 tons 380,800,000 kg.
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MAIN TOWERS
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Height of towers above water 746 ft. 227 m.
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Height of towers above roadway 500 ft. 152 m.
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Base dimension (each leg) 33 ft. x 54 ft. 10 m. x 16 m.
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Weight of one tower 44,000 lbs. 40,200,000 kg.
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Transverse deflection of towers 12.5 in. 0.32 m.
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Longitudinal deflection of towers (shoreward) 22 in. 0.56 m.
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Longitudinal deflection of towers (channelward) 18 in. 0.46 m.
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MAIN CABLES
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Diameter of cables including exterior wrapping 36 3/8 in. 0.92 m.
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Length of one cable 7,650 ft. 2,332 m.
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Total length of wire used 80,000 mi. 129,000 km.
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Number of wires on each cable 27,572
……………………………………………………………………………………………… Number of strands in each cable 61
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Weight of main cables and suspender cables 24,500 tons 22,2000,000 kg.
STRUCTURAL STEEL QUANTITIES
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Main towers 44,400 tons 40,280,000 kg.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Suspended structure 24,000 tons 21,772,000 kg.
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Anchorages 4.400 tons 3,991,000 kg.
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Approaches 10,200 tons 9,250,000 kg.
CONCRETE QUANTITIES (approx.)
cubic yards cubic meters
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San Francisco pier and fender 130,000 99,400
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Marin pier 23,500 18.000
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Anchorages, pylons, and cable housing 182.000 139,160
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Approaches 28,500 21,800
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VEHICLE CROSSINGS
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Annual vehicle crossings (northbound and southbound) 2018 39 million
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Total vehicle crossings (northbound and southbound)
since opening (as of July, 2019) over 2.1 billion
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TOLL REVENUE (approx.)
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Annual toll revenue (fiscal year 2018/2019) $152 million
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Total toll revenue since opening
(as of July 2019) over $2 billion
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