Skyway Briefing Notes

Skyway Bridge Briefing

The project should be finished around 2011 (spanning from island to Oakland).

It was this span that suffered the damage during Loma Prieta and is thus being replaced by the Skyway Bridge.

The signature span of this project will included a self anchoring suspension (SAS) bridge -- the first of its kind in the US.

The span between San Francisco and the island is currently being seismically retrofitted

Major work underway at time of visit was concerned with foundations:

1. Coffer cells are used to permit excavation.
2. Prefabricated footing boxes (800 tons) serve as a template through which large piles are driven.
3. A template frame is constructed supported on smaller pilings while actual main piies are driven.
4. Each pile is then welded to the footing box.
5. Piles are excavated, rebar cages are slid in and filled with concrete.

Bridge piers are then cast in place and topped by deck segments cast at an offsite yard and brought in by barge.