GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

CIA-STARGATE

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The document discusses the Golden Gate Bridge, which is the second largest suspension bridge in the world. It spans the Golden Gate Strait and connects San Francisco with Marin County. The bridge has a main span of 4,200 feet, making it the second longest after the Verranzo-Narrows Bridge in New York Harbor. The total length of the bridge is 8,981 feet and it cost $35 million to build. The two steel towers of the bridge are the tallest in the world, each standing at 746 feet high. The bridge carries a roadway that is 60 feet wide and divided into six lanes. There are plans to add a second lower deck to the bridge.

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Body:  Approved For Release 2000/08/11: CIA-RDP96-00792ROO0700440001-2
 The  second  largest  suspension
 bridge  in the world.   It  spans            the golden gate-a mile wide
 straight between the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay-
 and connects San Francisco with Marin County to the North.                               The
 bridge  has  a  4200  foot  main           span,  second only  to      the
 Verranzo-Narrows Bridge  in New York Harbor,    and a          total length
 of 8,981 feet.   The $35 million dollar   structure was started in
 1933  and  opened in  1937.   Joseph  B.          Strauss  was  the  chief
 engineer and Othmar H. Amman  (q.v.)  was a consultant.
 The two steel      towers  of  the
 bridge,  each 746  feet high,   are          the  tallest  bridge  towers in
 the world.    The  towers,  painted bright  orange,  support           two
 cables,  36.5 inches  in diameter, spaced         90 feet apart.       The
 pier supporting the south tower is founded on bedrock 100 feet
 below the water   surface.   The pier,            built 1125    ft from shore,
 is    exposed  to ocean storms  and  strong  tidal  currents.          The
 bridge carries a roadway,    60 feet wide,  divided into six lanes
 for vehicular traffic and there are plans to add a second lower
 deck.   The view from the roadway about 250 ft above the water
 is spectacular.
 Approved For Release 2000/08/11: CIA-RDP96-00792ROO0700440001-2