FACTS AT A GLANCE

LOCATION: Interstate 580 between Contra Costa and Marin counties

STRUCTURE: Cantilever and truss

LENGTH: 5.5 miles (including approaches)

VERTICAL CLEARANCE: 185 feet

CHANNEL SPAN: 1,070 feet

TOWER HEIGHT: 325 feet

OPENED: September 1956

COST: $66 million

AUTO TOLL: $4

COLLECTION: One way, westbound in Richmond

TRAFFIC LANES: Two lanes in each direction

FY 2005-06 TOTAL TOLL-PAID VEHICLES: 11,902,716

FY 2005-06 TOTAL BASE TOLLS COLLECTED: $14,322,096

Somewhat out of the mainstream of Bay Area traffic flows, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge does not garner the attention of its busier and more prominent cousins to the south, but for nearly 50 years it has quietly and efficiently served the needs of North Bay travelers.

Access to the bridge was significantly improved with the completion in 2001 of the Richmond Parkway, a 7.5-mile, four- to six-lane roadway that provides bridge users with a direct connection to Interstate 80 near Pinole. BATA-funded rehabilitation of the bridge itself is under way concurrently with the seismic retrofit work being done by Caltrans, and another RM 1 improvement project is in the planning stages.

See also: Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Rehabilitation

See also: Seismic Retrofit Program