Darvin Atkeson
Sunset on the Brown Bridge?
As the sun sets on the bay the new bridge lights came on and illuminated the
brand new and glowing addition to suspension bridges that the San Francisco
Bay Area is so well known for. This towering structure replaces the much
less impressive but long functioning cantilever section that partially
failed during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that crippled the Bay Bridge.
The new Bay Bridge is stunningly white reflecting whatever color light hits
the bridge. As the sunsets bright LED lights illuminate the structure and
roadway. Amazingly driving across the bridge is a pleasure. Though the
lights are incredibly bright, they are cleverly placed so they do not shine
in your eyes and illuminate every square inch of the roadway amazingly
evenly.
Controversy has surrounded the bridge since the time when it was determined
a new one should replace the aging Eastern Span. In researching
information for this image I found out that at this time, there is a bill
before the Senate proposing the new span of this spectacular span be
christened after former Speaker and Mayor Willie Brown. If it passes and
recent reports seem to indicate it will, the bridge would be named the
Willie L. Brown, Jr. Bridge and being such a mouthful, would likely simply
become known as the Brown Bridge. No doubt the name will confuse tourist
who look at the gleaming white bridge and ponder why it's called the Brown
Bridge. But it will be in good company as they look at the International
Orange that adorns the more famous Golden Gate Bridge. No doubt, they
will assume Californian's are just nuts. Perhaps they would be right.
Unfortunately the pathway on the bridge is not yet complete and the bridge
is already undergoing retrofitting to resolve some of the issues that arose
during construction and contribute to the controversy of the bridge. Yet
no one can deny that it's a remarkable structure and one that will be even
more impressive when the old bridge is removed and new views of the bridge
become available as the walkway opens. Unfortunately a walkway from
Yerba Buena Island to San Francisco it still a number of years away and will
not likely be seen any time in the near future.
© Darvin Atkeson
Sunset on the Brown Bridge?
As the sun sets on the bay the new bridge lights came on and illuminated the
brand new and glowing addition to suspension bridges that the San Francisco
Bay Area is so well known for. This towering structure replaces the much
less impressive but long functioning cantilever section that partially
failed during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that crippled the Bay Bridge.
The new Bay Bridge is stunningly white reflecting whatever color light hits
the bridge. As the sunsets bright LED lights illuminate the structure and
roadway. Amazingly driving across the bridge is a pleasure. Though the
lights are incredibly bright, they are cleverly placed so they do not shine
in your eyes and illuminate every square inch of the roadway amazingly
evenly.
Controversy has surrounded the bridge since the time when it was determined
a new one should replace the aging Eastern Span. In researching
information for this image I found out that at this time, there is a bill
before the Senate proposing the new span of this spectacular span be
christened after former Speaker and Mayor Willie Brown. If it passes and
recent reports seem to indicate it will, the bridge would be named the
Willie L. Brown, Jr. Bridge and being such a mouthful, would likely simply
become known as the Brown Bridge. No doubt the name will confuse tourist
who look at the gleaming white bridge and ponder why it's called the Brown
Bridge. But it will be in good company as they look at the International
Orange that adorns the more famous Golden Gate Bridge. No doubt, they
will assume Californian's are just nuts. Perhaps they would be right.
Unfortunately the pathway on the bridge is not yet complete and the bridge
is already undergoing retrofitting to resolve some of the issues that arose
during construction and contribute to the controversy of the bridge. Yet
no one can deny that it's a remarkable structure and one that will be even
more impressive when the old bridge is removed and new views of the bridge
become available as the walkway opens. Unfortunately a walkway from
Yerba Buena Island to San Francisco it still a number of years away and will
not likely be seen any time in the near future.
© Darvin Atkeson