Bay Bridge (East Span) Seismic Safety Project

Companies: Parsons Brinckerhoff, T.Y. Lin/Moffat & Nichol, Bay Area Toll Authority, California Department of Transportation
Industry: Architecture, Engineering, & Construction

For a new bridge to reconnect two cities, it first has to connect with its audience and its landmark neighbor.

Conceptual Design

To prove the project was viable, the California Department of Transportation shared detailed 3D designs with potential contracting firms.

Design Documentation

Replacing the earthquake-vulnerable east span of the Bay Bridge is the biggest engineering project in California history. Communicating how the world’s largest self-anchored suspension bridge would reshape the surrounding landscape, as well as individual lives, was crucial to the success of the project.

Visualization

The team used engineering, manufacturing, and construction data to create photorealistic contextual renderings of the bridge. These 3D visualizations were displayed on the Internet, local television, and in Bay Area movie theaters, informing residents about upcoming construction and road closures.

Construction

With the distribution of information about closures, construction was able to start early and avoid problematic delays. The project is on schedule to be completed in 2013.