The Bay Bridge’s grand reopening marked a historical moment for the East Bay-San Francisco community.  It was scheduled to open after Labor Day weekend but planners pushed the date up a day early.

Built in 1936, the Bay Bridge has been a prominent San Francisco landmark and has attracted tourists from all corners of the world. The bridge’s new modern design will undoubtedly attract even more visitors.

The bridge was reconstructed to protect commuter safety by avoiding seismic hazards. Many weaknesses in the eastern span were brought to the city’s attention after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This left the city with two options: reconstruction or building an entirely new eastern half of the bridge. Since the first option would be more economically efficient, blueprints were created for a new bridge.

Drawn up by Donald McDonald and a team of Weidlinger Associates, the reconstructed bridge was originally scheduled to open in 2007. Due to several delays, however, it didn’t open until 2013. Started in 1989, it took more than twenty years and $6.4 billion to accomplish the project. The eastern half of the bridge spans two miles and can withstand major natural disasters.

With the addition of the bicycle and pedestrian lane, people can now walk across the Bay Bridge for the the first time in history. Starting in Emeryville and Oakland, the path  leads to the bridge’s lone tower. Lack of funds will delay the possibility of expanding the walkway to downtown San Francisco but despite delays, the bridge was well-worth the wait.