Golden Gate Bridge may soon get long-awaited median

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The Golden Gate Bridge is a step closer to having a moveable safety barrier. The bridge would be shut down for a weekend late next year to install that barrier. Key meetings are taking place Thursday, with a final vote Friday.

Right now, cars going in the opposite direction of each other are dangerously close, separated only by plastic cones.

The idea proposed at the Thursday meeting is to buy a concrete barrier that was custom made for the Golden Gate Bridge. The proposal is considered a formality, but one board member said they still have a lot to consider before they vote.

"I think everyone wants to understand exactly what it means," board member David Rabbitt said. "The bridge lanes are a little narrower, want to understand how this will complicate that or add to that. We also want to understand the logistics of it, we have work to do on each end of the bridge. We also have a 52-hour closure that we have to come to grips with. So there are some things that we want to talk about, but I think it's all going to be good."

That closure he's talking about will be from a Friday through a Monday. It'll be at the end of October or the beginning of November next year. So the barrier's still a little more than a year away. It will cost $26 million.

The committee will vote on it Thursday. The full board will vote Friday.

Get more Bay Area Traffic »

golden gate bridge, traffic, driving, bay area traffic, amy hollyfield

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•