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View of the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge looking west showing the failed 15-m long section at Pier E-9. The view is looking west from the upper deck of the 88-m truss
(beam) supported by Pier E-9. A 153-m-long truss, also supported at Pier
E-9, is shown on the west side of the opening. The 15-m span of the upper deck was supported at the west end by bearings attached to the large north-south girder visible on the west side of the opening. These support bearings allowed expansion movement of the 15-m sections.
Similar supports were provided on a girder on the east side of the
opening, except the bearings were attached to prevent movement. Failure
of the bearings of the 88-m (east) truss allowed movement toward the east. This pulled the 15-m sections (upper and lower), which were attached to it, off their expansion bearings on the west end. The spans
then collapsed but remained partially attached at the east end. Photo Credit: E.V. Leyendecker, U.S. Geological Survey View full resolution image |