Novato Creek (Bel Marin Keys), Richardson Bay (Sausalito), Corinthian Inlet (Belvedere-Tiburon).

This private, retractable drawbridge spans a navigation lock at the end of
Bel Marine Keys Boulevard near Ignacio. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard.

Bel Marin Keys, a 1600 + acre water oriented residential community is
situated below the high water level of Novato Creek where it is protected
by a system of dikes. The moveable bridge makes it possible for boats
to enter the 60-foot lock unimpeded while still allowing emergency and
farm vehicles to reach the levee road beyond. One of only two retractable
drawbridges in California, it was completed in 1985 and is owned by
the Bel Marin Development Corp.

The vertical clearance under the bridge when in the closed position ranges
from 9.8 feet at MLLW to 4.5 feet at MHW. It is maintained in the open
position, however, and closed only when a vehicle has to cross the lock.

The first drawbridge to span Novato Creek was built by the San Francisco
and North Pacific Railroad in 1888. It reportedly spanned the creek
about a half-mile south of the Novato train depot. Replaced in 1917, the
new one remained there as a drawbridge until at least 1925. It was later
reclassified as a fixed span.

The same railroad constructed at least three more drawbridges, all
bascule spans. across Novato Creek between 1878 and 1917.

In March of 1918, a small wooden bascule highway bridge was built
over Novato Creek on Highway 37, about 3/4-mile east of Highway 101.
Manually operated, it was in place until 1929, when it was removed or
converted to a removeable-span bridge. This bridge was within sight of
and parallel to, one of the SFNWP bridges mentioned above.

Above is an aerial view of the bascule bridge that spanned a section
of Richardson Bay from 1931 to 1956. The view is to the northwest.
Photo: U.S.Coast Guard..

While the bridge itself, ended a nighmare traffic situation that had
bottled up southern Marin County for years, it is questionable whether
or not the moveable span was ever necessary. During one 18-year
period, 1931-1949, the bridge was only required to open six times.
Three of those openings were for U.S. Corps of Engineers dredges.

Opening day on the Richardson Bay Bridge (Redwood Bridge," November
22, 1931. Photo: Caltrans.

Except for the concrete and steell lift span and piers, the bridge was made
entirely of redwood, hence the name, "Redwood Bridge." Until this bridge
was completed, all north and south traffic between the Sausalito ferry
and San Rafael, followed a circuitous route around the western edge of
Richardson Bay causing considerable congestion.

The crowd on the bridge was also celebratng the opening of the first
hard surface road between Tamalpias and the Marin beaches (Highway 1).
After the bridge dedication, a parade of cars proceeded over the new
highway to Stinson Beach for a picnic.

This sketch shows the season opening of the original, wooden bascule
bridge over Corinthian Inlet c1900. Photo: Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks
Society.

The above bridge was built in 1888, by a Mr. Isreal Kashow. Mr Kashow
arrived at Belvedere in 1855 and settled on Belvedere (then called
Still Island). Calling it Kashow Island he tried every trick he could think
of to make it into an actual island and detach it from the Reed grant. He lost
the battle to make it a separate island and, hopefully to gain possesion of it,
but he didn't come out too badly. He ended up with deeds to 139 acres of
tidelands that included the 28-plus acre lagoon north of Beach Road and
much of Corinthian Island itself. He built the bridge across the tidal canal
(Corinthian Inlet) that separated Beach Road from Corinthian Island.

Each fall, numerous boats, arks and yachts of all sizes moved from their
anchorages in Belvedere Cove to the safety of the lagoon. The parade of
boats out of the lagoon in the spring marked the opening of yachting season
and was the forerunner of today's "Opening Day on the Bay celebration."

This bridge was replaced by a similar span in 1912. A wooden bascule
bridge with a 30-foot draw, it too, was manually operated and was built as
part of the county road. Old timers who remembered the bridge called it
the "Hell Gate Bridge." By 1930, the bridge was gone and the lagoon was
landlocked.

North Bay Bridges #1
Carquinez Strait (Martinez), Pacheco Slough (Martinez), Montezuma Slough (Chipps Island), Napa River (Napa).

North Bay Bridges #2
Napa River (Napa), (Brazos), (Vallejo).

North Bay Bridges #3
Napa River (Mare Island), Sonoma Creek, Tolay Creek (Sears Point Toll Road).

North Bay Bridges #4
Petaluma River (Grandview), (Black Point), (Haystack Landing), ("D" Street), (Washington Street).

North Bay Bridges #6
Corte Madera Creek (Corte Madera), Corte Madera Creek (Greenbrae), Gallinas Slough (San Rafael) Gallinas Creek (San Rafael).

mibgda-2day@sfchangehappens-books.com