Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a vital transportation link between the city of San Francisco and Marin County to the north. The bridge is a fixed, six lane roadway spanning 2.7 kilometers (the main span is 1,280 meters) and carries approximately 112,000 vehicles daily.

Today, it is considered by some to be the “most spectacular bridge in the world.” A century ago, building the Golden Gate Bridge seemed an impossible task. Any bridge at this location would have to withstand extreme winds and tides.Only engineer Josef Strauss was willing to take the risk that his bridge would withstand this destructive force.

© Frank Schulenburg / Wikipedia

Execution by Strauss

Strauss used over a million tons of concrete to construct the anchorages for the massive blocks that hold the bridge's suspension cables.

The north pier, which supports the tower, was easily built on a rocky outcrop 6 meters below the water's surface.

On the south side of San Francisco, however, Strauss had to build his pier in the open ocean, 30 meters below the surface. He constructed a huge, watertight cofferdam, large enough to enclose a football field, and pumped hundreds of tons of concrete into it.

By 1935, the towers were complete, and the installation of the suspension cables began. Two years later, the bridge was finished.

Some noteworthy items

Strauss completed the $27 million bridge just five months ahead of schedule and $1.3 million under budget. For his achievements
Strauss received $1 million and a lifetime bridge commission.

The bridge's steel cables are so long they could circle the Earth three times!
If the US Navy had had its way, the bridge might have been painted black and yellow stripes to improve visibility for passing ships.
During construction, a safety net beneath the bridge saved the lives of 19 men, who became known as the “Halfway to Hell Club.”
Millions of cars have crossed the bridge since its opening in 1937.

Reference..
www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig