In 1928, a San Francisco delegation urged Congress to pass a bill
authorizing a bridge to connect San Francisco with Oakland and
Berkeley-with 5 miles of water between. The legislation was defeated,
but in 1932 Congress approved a $73 million loan with the endorsement of
President Herbert Hoover. The first shovel broke ground in 1933, and 3
years later the span was opened to vehicular traffic with excited
celebration. After competing ferries cut their fares in half in 1927,
the bridge traffic amounted to 23 thousand vehicles a day. With the
opening of the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco in 1939, tolls
were reduced from 50 to 40 cents, and when cut further to 25 cents, the
ferries gave up.
The roadway was built on two suspension bridges, with a central pier
or anchorage at mid-channel. There are two decks: the top one handles
six lanes for cars and light truck traffic. The lower deck carries three
lanes for heavy trucks and multi-wheelers. There are also two streetcar
(trolley) tracks provided. The structure is a combination of suspension
and cantilever spans connected with a tunneled island.
Stamp Issue: 1939
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