How Long Is The Golden Gate Bridge (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 1.7 Miles

One of the most renowned landmarks in San Francisco is the Golden Gate. We all must have seen or at least heard about the massive bridge present in San Francisco. The bridge is a legend. It is the main route for transportation if you want to cross the strait between Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

The strait is one mile wide and is called the Golden Gate. Since the bridge got constructed over the Golden Gate Strait, it is known as the Golden Gate Bridge. A magnificent work of connecting two major cities. It connects San Francisco City to Marin Country, California. It is quite an icon in the area.

How Long Is The Golden Gate Bridge?

The famous Golden Gate Bridge is in San Francisco, California, United States. 

It is a suspension bridge that crosses over the Golden Gate strait. It was also known as one of the Wonders of the Modern World. Before the Golden Gate Bridge got constructed, transport between San Francisco City and Marin Country was possible via boat.

The bridge has a total length of 1.7 miles or 2737m. Apart from this, it is 90 ft wide. The height of this bridge is 746 m. 

The construction of the Golden Bridge started on January 5th, 1933. The work for the bridge, however, was completed on April 19th, 1937. But, it officially opened to commute on May 27th, 1937.

The Golden Gate Bridge is an iconic structure that is internationally recognized. Besides having thousands of commuters using the route daily. Thousands of tourists flock to San Francisco to look at the bridge. It indeed is a beautiful creation, and hence there is no doubt why so many people come to see it.

Besides cars, the bridge is open to commuting for pedestrians and also people using bicycles. When the construction of the Golden Gate was complete, it was the longest and the tallest suspension bridge of the era. 

The time it takes to commute on this bridge is different based on what mode of transport you choose. You can choose between options like driving a four-wheeler or a two-wheeler. You can even walk the bridge if you wish.

Why Is The Golden Gate Bridge So Long?

The Golden Gate Bridge got conceptualized to make transport easy between San Francisco city and the Marin Country. It crosses over the Golden Gate Strait, which is a mile wide. Hence to cover the distance, the Golden Gate Bridge spans about 1.7 miles. Besides this, there are some other reasons why the Golden Gate Bridge is so long. The reasons are listed below.

•  The bridge aims to cover the distance that is there due to the Golden Gate strait. However, constructing a point-to-point bridge is technically not possible. Additional space has to be covered so that the construction could have strength. Some land from both the shores had to be taken under the bridge while constructing. The reason was that it should be strong enough to support the total weight of the bridge.
• The bridge needed to get constructed to the length it presently is to maintain the overall strength. If the bridge had not been of the current distance, it would have caused problems in the future. It could pose a risk to the thousands of people who commute through the bridge each day. 

It was a well-thought decision to make the bridge this long. It is still standing tall and strong and is no doubt the pride of San Francisco.

Conclusion

The Golden Gate Bridge is a monument that makes every person living in San Francisco proud and happy. People come here from across the world to look at how beautifully this bridge is in real. They come to see how the designs and dreams of the Architects and the engineers have come into being.

Over the years, life for the people of San Francisco has become very peaceful. People can commute by various modes on this bridge. One can commute by car or bike their way across the bridge. The bridge is also open for pedestrians for a few hours each day.

References

1. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2005/ob/b416516k/unauth
2. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/JSDEAG.0000290