San Mateo - Hayward and Newark Slough bridges

When dedicated on March 3,1929, two years after the Dumbarton bridge, the San Mateo - Hayward bridge above inherited the title of world's longest bridge. The twelve-mile long span, seven of which were over water, was built as a privately owned venture under a 50 year franchise issued in 1927. Known then as the San Francisco Bay Toll Bridge, it connected Hayward with San Mateo. Built at a cost of $6,500,000, it was sold to the State of California in 1951 for $6,000,000. The State operated the span until 1968, when they completed a new high-level fixed bridge to take the place of the drawbridge. Destruction of the old bridge, began soon afterwards. Murphy Pacific Company was the only bidder when the bridge was auctioned off and for a paltry $57.20, got the lift span, towers, counterweights and the four truss spans. It cost them another $17,000 to dismantle it and tow it away.

The 27-foot-wide roadway on the bridge was at first marked for three lanes, but that proved to be too dangerous. The center lane, which quickly became known as the "suicide" lane was eliminated to make a wider two-lane roadway. Probably due to the early configuration of the roadway, this bridge had many more than its share of deadly accidents over its 39 years. The span was also the scene of a brutal murder in 1933. Caltrans photo.

In this July 1968 photo, all that remains of the old San Mateo/Hayward Bridge can be seen in back of the new bridge. In the process of being dismantled, the sections were hauled away on barges by Murphy Pacific, the same company that brought them there forty years before. Caltrans photo.

Built in 1906, this bridge was still in place the last time I looked. Granted, it hasn't seen a train for twenty years or more and although maintained in the open position, seldom sees a boat either. It spans Newark Slough, near the town of Newark and once, during a sixteen year period, never had to open even once. In another period of 30 years, it opened only six times. U.S.Coast Guard photo.

North Bay Bridges #1

North Bay Bridges #2

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

North Bay Bridges #5

North Bay Bridges #6

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