Demolition of Old Bay Bridge

The first phase of the demolition process of the East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge has been completed. The project, with a final cost $63.7 million, started in November 2013 and finished the current month.

The first phase of the demolition of the East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge has been completed. The project, with a final cost $63.7 million, started in November 2013 and finished the current month. Contractors dismantled the 1936 Cantilever East Span of the bridge hundreds of feet above the Bay.

Dr. Brian Maroney, the Chief Bridge Engineer for the project said "This careful balancing act was performed hundreds of feet above the Bay and had to deal with the elements and heavy lifts of lead-painted steel, all while adhering to strict environmental safeguards. This steel was new 80 years ago and technology was basically paper, pencils slide rules and calculations. The steel is now tired fatigued, cracked and rusted. This incredibly challenging work was completed on time, under budget and without loss of life, and that demands our respect."

In the second phase of the demolition, crews will remove the bridge's truss section.