The $5.6-million Golden Gate Bridge project involved installation of a $30-million movable median barrier system. Comprised of more than 3,200 steel-wrapped, concrete-filled median units, the system acts as a mechanical “zipper” that is designed to be adjusted daily to respond to traffic conditions. Crews also demolished toll booths, canopies and islands as well as reconstructed new components that echo the Art Deco originals. The team safely and efficiently managed traffic for the 2.5 million vehicles that cross the bridge monthly, resulting in zero accidents or incidents during construction. Meticulous coordination provided for a connector phase to the Doyle Drive Project as well as an unprecedented weekend closure of the bridge for the installation of the barrier system and the 30-ton zipper trucks, which twice daily shift the barriers depending on traffic flow.

Golden Gate Bridge Median Barrier

San Francisco

Key Players
Owner Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District
Lead Design Firm/Engineer AECOM
Contractor Ghilotti Bros. Inc.
Subcontractors West Bay Builders; Midstate Barrier