Richmond–San Rafael Bridge

Richmond–San Rafael Bridge
The Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, as seen from Mount Tamalpais, 2012
Coordinates37°56′05″N 122°26′02″W / 37.9347°N 122.4338°W / 37.9347; -122.4338
Carries
  • 4–5 lanes (2 upper deck, 2 lower deck during non-peak hours, 3 lower deck during peak hours) of I-580
  • Bicycles and pedestrians (24/7)
CrossesSan Francisco Bay
LocaleSan Rafael and Richmond, California
Official nameJohn F. McCarthy Memorial Bridge
Other name(s)Richmond Bridge
San Rafael Bridge
Named forJohn F. McCarthy
OwnerState of California
Maintained byCalifornia Department of Transportation and the Bay Area Toll Authority
ID number28 0100
Websitewww.bayareafastrak.org
Characteristics
DesignDouble-Decked Dual Cantilever bridge with Pratt Truss Approach
Total length29,040 ft (5.500 mi; 8.85 km)
Longest span326 m (1,070 ft) cantilever structure
No. of spans77 in total, consisting of:

19 girder spans (west)
14 truss spans (west)
3 spans (western cantilever)
9 truss spans (center)
3 spans (eastern cantilever)
12 truss spans (east)

17 girder spans (east)
Piers in water70
Clearance below185 feet (56 m) (main channel)
135 feet (41 m) (secondary channel)
History
DesignerNorman Raab
Constructed byGerwick—Kiewit Joint Venture (substructure)
Kiewit—Soda—Judson Pacific-Murphy Joint Venture (superstructure)
Construction startMarch 1953
Construction costUS$62,000,000 (equivalent to $717,100,000 in 2024)
OpenedSeptember 1, 1956 (September 1, 1956)
Statistics
Daily traffic66,800 (2011)

67,800 (2012)
72,300 (2013)
75,600 (2014)

79,200 (2015)
Toll
  • Westbound only
  • FasTrak or pay-by-plate, cash not accepted
  • Effective January 1 – December 31, 2025 (2025-01-01 2025-12-31):
  • $8.00
  • $4.00 (carpool rush hours, FasTrak only)
Location

The Richmond–San Rafael Bridge (officially renamed the John F. McCarthy Memorial Bridge in 1981) is the northernmost of the east–west crossings of California's San Francisco Bay, carrying Interstate 580 from Richmond on the east to San Rafael on the west. It opened in 1956, replacing the ferry service by the Richmond–San Rafael Ferry Company, and was officially renamed in 1981 to honor California State Senator John F. McCarthy, who championed the bridge's creation.