San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Update

Bay Bridge 360 Offers Front Row Seat to Bay Bridge Construction

Videos on New Web Site Show Unique Up-Close Views of Retrofit Projects

CONTACT: Bay Bridge Public Information Office: (510) 286-7167

Oakland, Calif., Friday, Sept. 19, 2008... With today’s launch of Bay Bridge 360, bridge enthusiasts and the merely curious have a new resource to view spectacular and rarely seen videos and images of the seismic retrofit projects on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. This is the first-of-its-kind Web site dedicated to providing visual content on California’s largest public works improvement effort.

Bay Bridge 360 debuts with numerous videos, as well as slideshows, spotlighting various construction activities. The site includes an innovative graphical interface that allows visitors to zoom in and out of key sections of the bridge. Visitors can choose to view videos, slide shows and visual simulations, each focusing on a key aspect of the Bay Bridge project.

The Web site also premieres with the public release of the highly anticipated new East Span animated simulation. Visitors will get a bird’s eye view of the new East Span, swooping over and alongside the bridge to give a detailed view of what the bridge will look like, and what drivers will see. The animated simulation also showcases the pedestrian/bicycle path on the south side of the new span.

While the simulation provides a sweeping view of the new East Span, the numerous videos on Bay Bridge 360 offer a more intimate, close-up glimpse of the extraordinary construction work taking place right now. The complexity of the construction has to be seen to be believed, and viewers finally have that unique opportunity.

Visitors to Bay Bridge 360 will find videos that tell the story of this bridge, including an overview of the seismic retrofit projects; the time-lapse video showing crews rolling in the 350-foot-long, 6,500-ton section of viaduct on Yerba Buena Island during Labor Day weekend 2007; and conceptual videos such as “Wrangling Rebar,” showing construction crews working with the steel reinforcing bars in often unique and precarious situations.

Additionally, viewers will be able to share videos. A “Share This” link exists with each video and slideshow, allowing visitors to e-mail a link to family and friends.