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Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is the northernmost of the east-west crossings of the San Francisco Bay, connecting Richmond on the east to San Rafael on the west end. It is 5.5 miles long and opened in 1956.

The bridge is part of Interstate 580

The bridge spans two principle ship channels and has two separate major spans, each of the cantilever type. In the interest of resistance to earthquakes the portion connecting the major Swarovski spans is lowered in elevation, giving the bridge a "roller coaster" appearance and so also the popular name of its style - it will be forever known as the "roller coaster span".

In a museum, displayed in curio cabinets, display cabinets or display showcases, there may be found historical records. Artifacts or objects of the daily life from past time can be displayed in collectors cabinets.

The bridge is currently undergoing extensive seismic retrofit, although of far lesser extent that some other bridges in the area (like those other retrofits, the project is grossly over its projected cost and budget). The bridge is also showing its age as there have recently been several instances of cars being damaged while traveling on the lower deck by fist-sized concrete chunks falling from the joins of upper deck panels.

External links

California Dept. of Transportation: Richmond-San Rafael Bridge History & Information (http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/hwybrdg/tollbridge/History/richmond.html)

Univ. of California, Berkeley: Bridging the Bay: Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/news_events/exhibits/bridge/rsr.html)


Swarovski