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Golden Gate Bridge (San-Francisco, USA)

МGolden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate Strait. It connects the city of San Francisco on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula to the southern part of Marin County, close to Sausalito. The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed during the year 1937 and until 1964. The bridge’s length is 1970 meters, the length of the longest span – 1280 meters, the height of the towers – 230 meter above water, the weight – 894,500 tons. The clearance below is 67 meters. This is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world.

On May 27, 1937 at 6 am Golden Gate Bridge was opened for pedestrians. For the first twelve hours it was fully theirs. The next day President Roosevelt gave a signal from the White House for the first cars to drive upon the bridge. In 1987, when the bridge turned fifty years old, a special festivity was held. For such an occasion there even was an idea to stop the traffic on the bridge for all the participants to walk freely on it. On Sunday, May 24, 1987 approximately 300,000 people crossed the bridge during the celebration.

On May 27, 1937 at 6 am Golden Gate Bridge was opened for pedestrians. For the first twelve hours it was fully theirs. The next day President Roosevelt gave a signal from the White House for the first cars to drive upon the bridge. In 1987, when the bridge turned fifty years old, a special festivity was held. For such an occasion there even was an idea to stop the traffic on the bridge for all the participants to walk freely on it. On Sunday, May 24, 1987 approximately 300,000 people crossed the bridge during the celebration.

As the only road to exit San Francisco to the north, the bridge is part of both U.S. Route 101 and California Route 1. Car traffic on the bridge flows on six lanes. In average, 100,000 cars cross the bridge every day. The number of lanes varies, depending on the situation with traffic. Usually, on weekday mornings, you can see four of the six lanes run southbound into the city and two – northbound. During the rush hours on weekday afternoons, they run vise versa. At night two lanes are open in each direction. The dividing line is made of plastic markers that are easy to run over and get to the oncoming traffic lane. That is why the speed limit on the bridge is 45 miles per hour (~72 km/h). In general once a year car accidents take place when a car would get onto the opposite lane and hit the oncoming traffic. At present negotiations is still going on concerning the construction of a movable dividing line that would safeguard both sides of the bridge against such accidents.

СFrom September 1, 2002 the auto cash toll for passenger cars crossing the bridge in the south direction was increased from 3 to 5 US dollars (4 dollars, if paid via electronic system “FasTrak”). The northbound traffic is toll free. Pedestrians and cyclists can cross the bridge for free.

As of January 2007 pedestrians can cross the bridge for free. On January 26, 2008 the auto cash toll for passenger cars was six US dollars. On weekdays, if there are more than three people in a car entering the city, the access would also be free. Free transit is also granted to emergency ambulance cars, police cars, and fire trucks.

The bridge was originally painted with red lead primer and a lead-based topcoat, which was touched up as required. In the mid-1960s, a program was started to improve corrosion protection by stripping the original paint and repainting the bridge with zinc silicate primer and vinyl topcoats. Since 1990 Acrylic topcoats have been used instead for air-quality reasons. The program was completed in 1995 and it is now maintained by 38 painters who touch up the paintwork where it becomes seriously eroded.

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