This Amazing Time Lapse Video Shows The Construction of The San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge

The Bay Bridge doesn’t get the world-wide attention like her Golden Gate sister does. But, lately, our beloved Bay Bridge had quite a makeover and we can barely recognize her! When the Loma Prieta earthquake left her damaged on October 17, 1989, a 50 foot portion of her deck fell onto the bottom deck, sadly causing one death. Engineers got to work to analyze how sturdy this great bridge was and what needed to be done to make her even stronger. They discovered some massive concrete supports could burst and crumble under likely stresses.

Twenty years later, there were numerous incidents with steal beams showing cracks and two steel rods snapped on the eastern span of the bridge falling into oncoming traffic. Cal Trans had their hands full keeping this bridge running and open as best as they could. It was time for a makeover.

This time lapse video takes 10 years of construction and reduces it into four minutes. It’s just so incredible. This pretty bridge will be here a long time after we are, the backdrop to the Bay and a resource needed and loved by so many around here.

On September 13, 2013, New Bay Bridge opened ahead of schedule but way over budget. It was a $6.4 billion engineering masterpiece, which took more than 10 years to build and came in at $5 billion above and beyond what was first projected. But, lets try not think about that.

What do you think about the Bay Bridge today?