Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, Double-decker bridge between Richmond and San Rafael, United States.
The Richmond–San Rafael Bridge is a double-decker crossing over San Francisco Bay between Richmond and San Rafael in the United States. It consists of steel and includes two roadways on separate levels that run for more than 5.5 miles (8.8 kilometers) in total.
The California transportation authority opened the crossing on September 1, 1956, ending ferry operations between the two cities. The structure was built during a period when the region grew rapidly and needed new routes across the water.
This crossing links the waterfront district of Richmond with the residential areas of Marin County and serves daily commuters traveling between both shores of the bay. The name recalls the two cities that were directly connected for the first time by this structure.
Tolls are collected only from westbound traffic, at the plaza on the east side; all-electronic tolling has been in place since March 2020. Westbound vehicles use the upper deck, eastbound the lower deck. The upper-deck bicycle and pedestrian path runs on a restricted weekend-heavy schedule, with the lane used as a westbound shoulder on weekdays.
On the morning of January 4, 2008, winds of about 70 mph (110 km/h) shook the roadway and overturned four trucks on the lower deck and one on the upper deck. The bridge stayed closed for six hours until the wind dropped that afternoon.
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