Lefty O'Doul Bridge

Coordinates: 37°46′36″N 122°23′24″W / 37.77667°N 122.39000°W / 37.77667; -122.39000 (Lefty O'Doul Bridge)
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Lefty O'Doul Bridge
The bridge as seen from Oracle Park
Coordinates37°46′36″N 122°23′24″W / 37.77667°N 122.39000°W / 37.77667; -122.39000 (Lefty O'Doul Bridge)
CarriesCars, bicycles, pedestrians
CrossesMission Creek
LocaleSan Francisco, California
Named forLefty O'Doul
Characteristics
DesignBascule bridge
No. of lanes5
History
DesignerJoseph Strauss[1]
Construction cost$640,000[2]
OpenedMay 12, 1933[1]
Statistics
TollNone
Location
Map

The Lefty O'Doul Bridge (also known as the Third Street Bridge or China Basin Bridge) is a bascule bridge connecting the China Basin and Mission Bay neighborhoods of San Francisco, carrying Third Street across the Mission Creek Channel. It is located directly adjacent to Oracle Park.

History[edit]

The bridge opened on May 12, 1933, at a ceremony attended by mayor Angelo Joseph Rossi, having been designed by Joseph Strauss, chief engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge.[1] At the time, it carried pedestrians, automobiles, streetcars, and trains.[1] The bridge was renamed in 1980 in honor of baseball player Lefty O'Doul.[3][4] It was retrofitted in 1999, prior to the opening of the adjacent ballpark, originally named Pacific Bell Park.[5]

Concrete counterweights for lifting the bridge

Usage[edit]

The bridge carries five lanes of traffic. During normal conditions, the two easternmost lanes carry northbound traffic, the two westernmost lanes carry southbound traffic, and the center lane is reversible. Before, during, and after events at neighboring Oracle Park, the two easternmost lanes are closed to vehicles and used exclusively by pedestrians, while the remaining two easternmost lanes are reversible.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Third Street Bridge Opens". The San Francisco Examiner. May 13, 1933. p. 3. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "$640,000 Span Carries First Traffic". The San Francisco Examiner. May 13, 1933. p. 3. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Salter, Stephanie (August 17, 1986). "O'Doul proves S.F. never too big for its bridges". The San Francisco Examiner. p. B-1. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Salter, Stephanie (August 17, 1986). "O'Doul proves S.F. never too big for its bridges (cont'd)". The San Francisco Examiner. p. B-2. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Delgado, Ray (July 13, 1999). "Third Street drawbridge to be closed 15 weeks". The San Francisco Examiner. p. A-7. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ San Francisco Board of Supervisors Resolution #73-00

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]