The Engineering Process Behind The Golden Gate Bridge

How the Golden Gate Bridge was constructive and how it affected the modern world

By: Esah Sheikh, Author

April 19, 2024

The Engineering Process Behind The Golden Gate Bridge

Introduction

In January 5, 1933 two steel towers rose in the fog of the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The Golden Gate Bridge arose as a resemblance of American ingenuity and resolve. More than $35 million dollars and 1.7 miles consists in the Golden Gate Bridge. So how did it come to be?

The Process

Charles Ellis and Joseph Strauss, were the main engineers in the creation of the Golden Gate Bridge. Strauss’s initial plan was to create a cantilever bridge. But, Ellis and Leon Moisseif convinced him to pursue a different plan. Hence, the suspension bridge that is seen today. It has a more flexible structure which counter’s the harsh winds in the bay. But, to create this idea it required cables of bundled wire, for a steel rope. The south tower of the two tall and heavy towers required workers to drill underwater to be stable. Instead they dropped bombs to the ocean floor which created holes for concreate to pour in. But, when the two towers were constructed it was very easy to conduct the plan. Workers, determined to finish the plan combined cables attaching it to the towers, and land, as well as placing a concrete roadway. Finally, painting the bridge, a red paint was coated onto the steel material. But, even the paint was a hard decision to make because the navy wanted it to be black and yellow.

Problems

The Golden gate Bridge had many problems in the building process. For example, the time that it would be created was very underestimated. This was because the materials and steel was manufactured in Pennsylvania which is 2796.17. miles away. Therefore, they had to dismantle, package, and ship piece by piece. The military feared the idea of the bridge to affect the harbor and make a bigger target on it. Especially when Alcatraz Island is just East of the Golden Gate Bridge. The businesses that cross into the San Francisco Bay thought that there businesses would fall with the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Even residents thought of the idea of being bad because they wanted to maintain the area as a natural scenery. Charles Ellis and Joseph Strauss doubted their assignment and questioned if it will be even possible to build. Additionally, the area was hard to work with. The tides swirled everywhere and with 60 miles per hour winds it created an endless fog. San Francisco is known for earthquakes and due to the San Andreas Fault there were many concerns of earthquakes happening in the process of the Golden Gate Bridge. With tall and heavy towers it was very hard to create the dream bridge. Due to the towers being so tall and heavy it was needed to be built on site. It wasn’t as hard to create and find a stable foundation for the north tower in contrast to the south. This was because the south tower required a ten-story building underwater to be stable enough. Sadly, in 1937 a scaffolding platform collapsed and caused ten workers to die.

Conclusion

Despite all the problems Strauss was determined to create a reliable passage way that will change the future of San Francisco forever. At the time, The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest and tallest suspension bridge ever attempted and it did not disappoint. The final result is a known landmark throughout the U.S and History. 11 construction workers died in the process but they would be happy with the result.