Skyway
As the longest section of the new East Span at 1.2 miles, the Skyway’s graceful parallel decks will transform the appearance of the Bay Bridge, as well as the way motorists experience their drive, thanks to sweeping unencumbered views of the Bay. The sleek side-by-side east and westbound decks arc out gracefully over the Bay, a distinct change from the gray steel truss box of the original bridge that now carries traffic. Prime contractor Kiewit/FCI/Manson (Joint Venture) completed construction in 2008.
The Skyway’s decks, which accommodate five lanes of traffic and include 10-foot-wide shoulders to help keep traffic moving, are composed of 452 pre-cast concrete segments (standing three stories high, 90 feet wide and 25 feet long). Combined, the Skyway elements contain approximately 200 million pounds of structural steel, 120 million pounds of reinforcing steel, 200,000 linear feet of piling and about 450,000 cubic yards of concrete, weighing approximately 700 tons each. The surface of the deck is paved with durable and weather resistant high-strength polyester concrete. Fabricated in Stockton, California, the deck sections were transported by barge to the project site. These are the largest segments of their kind ever cast, and they were lifted into place by custom-made winches.
While much of the Skyway is concrete, the western end is made of steel. The two huge steel transition segments (one for each deck) were hoisted into place in two of the heaviest lifts in California history. These segments, weighing nearly 2,000 tons each, will eventually connect the Skyway with the new SAS.
The Skyway sections are supported by 14 sets of piers that range in height from 45 to 115 feet, with the shorter piers closer to the Oakland shoreline. A close look at the piers reveals a faceted design that echoes the four independent legs of the SAS tower. The belly of the Skyway reveals a clean and slightly undulating and aerodynamic design suggesting rhythm and movement.
To construct the enormous piers that support the Skyway, 160 rebar and concrete-filled steel piles measuring 8 1/2 feet in diameter were driven deep into the Bay’s soil. These massive piles were welded into the pile caps, which are underneath the columns. Unlike the original bridge’s wooden pilings, which extend from 85 to 200 feet, the Skyway’s steel piles reach as much as 300 feet deep to anchor in stable soils.
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Key Facts
- 1.2 miles long between SAS and OTD
- Made up of 452 deck sections and 28 columns
- Roadway sections fabricated in Stockton, Calif.
- Foundations supported by steel and concrete piles
- Piles are 8ft in diameter, driven 300ft into the bay mud
- Design includes nesting platforms for birds
- Completed in 2007
