Building the impossible: Golden Gate Bridge - Alex Gendler
TED-Ed・4 minutes read
The Golden Gate Bridge towers were dismantled in Pennsylvania and transported over 4,500 kilometers to California for construction as a suspension bridge, designed by Charles Ellis and Leon Moisseif, with advanced steel cables for flexibility and wind-resistance, facing construction challenges like building underwater towers and earthquakes, with safety measures in place, leading to the selection of the iconic "international orange" paint color.
Insights
- The Golden Gate Bridge towers were transported over 4,500 kilometers from Pennsylvania to California for construction, weighing 22,000 tons and standing at 227 meters, showcasing the monumental effort and engineering prowess involved in the project.
- Engineers Charles Ellis and Leon Moisseif altered the initial cantilever design to a suspension bridge, enhancing flexibility and wind resistance with advanced steel cables, overcoming construction challenges like underwater tower building, bomb foundation creation, and earthquake risks, while implementing safety measures such as hard hats and safety nets, ultimately leading to the iconic "international orange" paint color selection for the bridge.
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Recent questions
How heavy were the Golden Gate Bridge towers?
22,000 tons
Who were the engineers behind the Golden Gate Bridge design?
Charles Ellis and Leon Moisseif
What challenges did the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge face?
Building towers underwater, dropping bombs for foundations, and earthquakes
Why was the Golden Gate Bridge painted "international orange"?
Chosen as the iconic paint color for the bridge
How tall were the Golden Gate Bridge towers?
227 meters
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Summary
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Golden Gate Bridge: Tower Transport and Construction
- The Golden Gate Bridge towers, weighing 22,000 tons and standing at 227 meters, were dismantled in Pennsylvania and transported over 4,500 kilometers to California for construction.
- Initially planned as a cantilever bridge, the design was changed to a suspension bridge by engineers Charles Ellis and Leon Moisseif, allowing for a more flexible and wind-resistant structure using advanced steel cables.
- Construction challenges included building the towers underwater, dropping bombs to create foundations, and dealing with earthquakes, with safety measures like hard hats and safety nets in place, culminating in the iconic "international orange" paint color chosen for the bridge.
