The Golden Gate Bridge has kept San Francisco and Marin County, California connected for close to 100 years. Construction started in 1933 and was completed in 1937, and this 1.7 mile suspension bridge has been declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
From a distance, the bridge looks about the same as it did on its opening day, including the color, dubbed International Orange, which was chosen by the bridge’s architect, Irving Morrow. However a few enhancements have been added over the years:
- The bridge was retrofitted with lateral and diagonal bracing in the mid-1950s, to resist torsion in high winds.
- Although not on the bridge itself, tollbooths have been installed and updated over the years.
- With an average of 30 “jumpers” every year, a suicide prevention net is currently being constructed.
- Another retrofit is intended to protect the Golden Gate during seismic activity. The bridge has been undergoing that project for several years.
Another enhancement was recently completed – a new wind resistance railing, “designed to make the bridge more aerodynamic under high wind conditions,” which is “necessary to ensure the safety and structural integrity of the bridge for generations to come,” a Golden Gate Bridge spokesperson told CNN.
But what’s so interesting about it is that it’s causing the bridge to make noise. Constantly. The area is very windy and the railing is making a sort of whistling sound, although some have said it sounds eerier than that. The tone also changes based on where you are. Take a listen:
The railing isn’t going anywhere and, of course, neither is the wind. So the constant whistling is something San Francisco residents and visitors will just have to get used to.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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