Bay Bridge

San Francisco Bay Bridge is a popular tourist destination. The best way in which you can experience the beauty at Bay Bridge is form the water front beside the Embarcadero Street, where one can take a walk as well as take pictures. The bay bridge consists of a series of bridges in the bay are of San Francisco, California. The bridge has been featured in many movies. Some of the movies are: Shadow of the Thin Man, The Dead Pool, George of the Jungle, The Towering Inferno, The Graduate, and Basic Instinct. Besides, this bridge was also featured in video games like Resistance 2 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Bay Bridge Toll

In 1936, when the bridge was opened for the first time the toll amount was 65 cents and it was collected in both directions. In less than 12 months, the toll was lowered to 50 cents; the reason for this to compete with the ferry system. Many changes were made after this and after the last changes implemented, the toll charges are as follows: for auto it is $5, it increases to $6 during peak commute hours, comes back to $5 during weekends, but it is $4 otherwise. Carpool discount is $2.50 and it is available only to drivers having FasTrak electronic toll devices.
If you drive to the exit of Treasure Island and stop just outside the entrance of the military base, you can get a magnificent view of the bay and the San Francisco city skyline. And if you take a turn here and drive back to the city, you do not have to pay any toll.

San Francisco Bay Bridge Facts

• The Bay Bridge is the longest elevated steel bridge in the world
• The combined length of the two section of Bay Bridge is 23,000 feet or 4.5 miles.
• From one end to the other, the length of Bay Bridge is 43,500 feet or 8.5 miles
• The west span of the bridge is 2,310 feet and it is 220 feet above water.
• The east span is 1,400 feet and it is 191 feet above the water.
• The Yerba Buena Tunnel is the world’s largest bore measuring 76 feet wide and 58 feet tall.
• The deepest pier of the bridge is located 242 feet below the water's surface
• More than a million vehicles cross the bay everyday
• During its constriction more than 6% of the total United States steel output, in 1933 was used up.

San Fran Bay Bridge name The official name of the bridge is San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, but most locals refer to it as The Bay Bridge. James ‘Sunny Jim’ Rolph Bridge is an unofficial name of the bridge, but this is rarely used. James Rolph was the Governor of California when construction of the bridge began, and he died in office two years before it was finished. The bridge was named James ‘Sunny Jim’ Rolph Bridge, to honor him, but as mentioned earlier it was an unofficial name.