Benicia–Martinez Bridge, Road and railway bridges in Martinez, United States
The Benicia–Martinez Bridge is a group of three parallel bridges crossing the Carquinez Strait in Northern California, including one rail bridge and two road bridges. The entire system extends roughly 2.7 kilometers and links the two cities on opposite shores of the strait.
The rail bridge was built in 1930 as a replacement for the Southern Pacific Railroad ferry service across the Carquinez Strait. The first road span opened in 1962 to carry automobile traffic, and a second road span was added later after traffic in the region grew.
The structure takes its name from the two cities it connects, Benicia and Martinez, across the Carquinez Strait. Travelers crossing today often see cargo ships and ferries below, following the same waterway that once served as the sole link between the two shores.
The northbound roadway carries five lanes across the strait and includes automatic toll systems that capture vehicles as they pass through. The southbound road span offers four lanes and a dedicated bike path for pedestrians and cyclists, allowing a safe crossing away from automobile traffic.
The rail drawbridge is 1,708 m long, the longest railway bridge west of the Mississippi and the second-longest in North America. Its lift span clears 291 feet horizontally, with 70 feet of vertical clearance closed and 135 feet open. It carries Union Pacific and BNSF freight plus 36 scheduled Amtrak trains each weekday, including the California Zephyr and Coast Starlight.
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