the color was selected in a survey of residents within a 35-mile radius — it may be a surprise to learn that in 86 years , it ’ s been painted only three times . This is in marked contrast to the maintenance schedule of another iconic California bridge , the Golden Gate , which is continuously being painted as part of its maintenance . “ Our weather in Sacramento is a lot less harsh than in the Bay Area ,” Kaslan says . Apparently , that refreshing ocean air also plays havoc with the paint , whereas what he calls the “ iridescence ” of the Tower Bridge ’ s finish withstands the valley ’ s rainy seasons and dry summers .
It takes a village to care for a bridge . Maintenance of the Tower Bridge “ is truly a team effort ,” says Kaslan . “ It involves many disciplines — including bridge operators , field maintenance crews , bridge structure engineers , and specialized mechanical and electrical engineers .” Kaslan ’ s office provides engineering-related inspection and support functions .
Monighan says the Tower Bridge was built to replace the M Street
“ Both the I Street Bridge and the M Street Bridge were about ( getting ) trains over the river , with cars being a secondary thought . … ( The Tower Bridge ) was a much grander bridge than the I Street Bridge and done in a deco design fashion which was very much of the time .”
BRUCE MONIGHAN urban design manager City of Sacramento
Bridge . “ Both the I Street Bridge and the M Street Bridge were about ( getting ) trains over the river , with cars being a secondary thought . The transcontinental highway system was an important strategic transportation system … and the M Street Bridge was deemed insufficient to ( accommodate cars ), and the new Tower Bridge was proposed . It was a much grander bridge than the I Street Bridge and done in a deco design fashion , which was very much of the time .”
Though Kaslan points out that all mobile bridges are considered “ drawbridges for some reason ” — we tend to think of that term in regard to only the type of bridges that open in the middle , with both sides of the road raising vertically — the Tower Bridge was one of the earlier lift bridges , where the center section lifts vertically to allow for boats to pass beneath . The nearby I Street Bridge uses a swing section that moves horizontally .
In case you ’ re planning to sail into Sacramento on your life-size replica of the Royal Caribbean ’ s Symphony of the Seas ( the world ’ s largest cruise ship at 238 feet tall ), you should know
The Tower Bridge ’ s dedication ceremony on Dec . 15 , 1935 , attracted a large crowd who witnessed the first raising of its lift span . PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SACRAMENTO HISTORY MUSEUM
the vertical clearance of the Tower Bridge , when it ’ s fully open , is only 96 feet from the surface of the average high-water elevation of the Sacramento River . Kaslan says the width of a craft is equally critical : “ Any vessel more than 170 feet wide can ’ t pass through the navigational opening at Tower Bridge .”
As an engineer , Kaslan cares about the nuts and bolts of the Tower Bridge , but he also appreciates its beauty .
“ Whenever I have out-of-town visitors , I take them out for lunch along the waterfront with the Tower Bridge in sight ,” he says . “ The iconic art deco architecture is beautiful , and the bridge defines Sacramento as the River City . As an engineer , I admire the bridge as being very well designed — and built like a Sherman tank .”
Ed Goldman is a Sacramento writer . He wrote the Working Lunch column for Comstock ’ s for 15 years and a daily column for the Sacramento Business Journal for eight years . His thriceweekly column , The Goldman State , is online at goldmanstate . com .
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