A Lasting Monument

Asked how long the Golden Gate Bridge would last, Chief Engineer Joseph Strauss replied, "Forever." Although the bridge was designed to be strong and durable, making it a lasting monument requires continual maintenance and improvements. Since its opening in 1937, it has undergone many upgrades and retrofits, including bracing across the bottom of the deck to reduce twisting in high winds, replacement of part of the roadway deck with a lighter-weight structural layer, replacement of all 500 vertical suspender ropes one by one, seismic retrofits from one end of the bridge to the other, replacement of some original riveted X-braced struts over Fort Point with higher-strength steel pieces, constant rust prevention and repainting in International Orange to preserve its appearance, and installation of motion-measurement sensors to monitor responses to wind, earthquakes, traffic loads, and temperature changes. Maintaining the bridge requires engineers, ironworkers, electricians, painters, and other workers who take pride in caring for both an essential transportation route and a famous, beloved landmark.

San Francisco, California · United States