Dumbarton Bridge, Toll road bridge in San Francisco Bay, United States
The Dumbarton Bridge is a toll road bridge made of reinforced concrete that connects Menlo Park with Newark across San Francisco Bay in California. The structure stretches for 2621 meters (8600 feet) and runs low over the water in the southern part of the bay.
The bridge opened in October 1982 and replaced an older crossing from 1927. It was built as the last major highway bridge in San Francisco Bay to handle growing traffic needs between Silicon Valley and the East Bay.
The crossing runs through the middle of the bay, where many people commute daily to work in Silicon Valley. The name comes from the Scottish town of Dumbarton and was brought to this region by early settlers from Britain.
The crossing offers six traffic lanes, three in each direction, with a separate path for cyclists and pedestrians along the southern side. It is advisable to travel outside peak morning and early evening hours to avoid congestion.
The bridge runs through an important wetland area where you can often see waterbirds and seals on sandbars while driving. This part of the bay is shallow enough that the support structures of the crossing rise directly from the water and the area beneath remains visible.
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