The project will replace an existing bridge, originally built in 1927, which carries westbound traffic on Interstate 80 across the Carquinez Strait navigation channels about 20 miles northeast of San Francisco. Construction is slated for completion in 2003.

Key project highlights include:

The three span, 3,465-foot-long structure will be one of the nation’s first major suspension bridges to be built in several decades.

The bridge features two 400-foot high concrete towers, supported by driven piles. Each tower will have 12 foundation piles, 3 meters in diameter by 51 meters long, with an additional 42-meter rock socket.

The superstructure is a steel orthotropic deck section. Fabricated in Japan, it will be shipped in three ocean going barges. Bridge sections up to 50 meters long will be jacked into place off the bridge main suspension cables.

The new 82-foot-wide deck will accommodate four vehicle lanes (including one HOV lane), a bicycle/pedestrian lane, and wide shoulders.

The project features an aggressive schedule bid in 1,200 days, with every day a working day.

As of December 31, 2000 the project team had worked 197,000 hours with zero serious injuries and no lost time accidents. FCI Constructors/Cleveland Bridge developed several key safety areas of emphasis to achieve that record, starting with a comprehensive new employee orientation program, which is CD-Rom interactive. Every new employee must participate in and pass a written test for each module. The focus of the training is behavior based.

A second major component of the safety program is the weekly management training programs geared towards increasing both technical knowledge as well as managerial skills. The format takes place during a weekly site safety coordination meeting, where subjects covered include results of site inspections, observations and independent third party safety audits.

Another key component of the project is the mandatory completion of a JSA, to be completed by the foreman in charge and prior to the commencement of work activity. Once that is completed, a safety meeting is conducted. For complex or high-risk activities, such as critical picks or deep pile work, a formal safety review process takes place with the management team to ensure that all aspects of the activity have been well planned and prepared for prior to commencement of work.

In addition, monthly performance in both numbers of accidents, near misses, as well as safety activities are measured and are factored into whether or not a safety BBQ is held for everyone on site, including subs, the owner and medical partners. Other incentives include T-shirts, hats and jackets to reward the safe worker or crew.