The Golden Gate Bridge’s final seismic retrofit phase, Phase 3B, began in early 2026. The work spans the bridge’s towers, side spans, main suspension span and south tower pier, with construction planned across 2026–2036. The first of two contracts covers the towers and side spans and is expected to take about six years.
What Phase 3B will strengthen
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District says towers and side spans are being addressed first because they are less flexible than the main span. The program includes work on the main suspension span, both side spans, both towers and the south tower pier.
- Install large steel plates at tower bases and strengthen tower trusses.
- Replace expansion joints at roadway-to-tower and roadway-to-pylon interfaces so the structure can move in three dimensions.
- Reinforce lateral bracing and retrofit 255 roadway floor beams.
- Add 38 energy dissipation devices intended to reduce seismic energy transferred to the bridge.
- Repaint the South Tower above the roadway.
The District describes the purpose as improving the bridge’s ability to remain in service after a major disaster and support regional response and recovery. This is a project objective, not a guarantee that the bridge will be undamaged or remain open after an earthquake. District Phase 3 project details
Schedule: the whole phase and the first contract
The District’s current schedule places Phase 3B broadly in 2026–2036. Its first construction contract, awarded in October 2025, is expected to take about six years; that duration applies to only part of the two-contract program, not the entire phase.
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The first contract covers the North and South Towers and the North and South Side Spans. A May 21, 2026 District engineering status report records an award to Halmar International, LLC for $863,949,008. The District says the phase is funded with federal, state and District funds. Phase 3 schedule and scope · May 21, 2026 engineering status report
Overnight lane closures and what drivers should expect
A District notice dated October 2, 2026 says weekday overnight lane closures for retrofit construction began Monday, October 5. Closures are approximately 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday. The bridge remains open in both directions, with at least one travel lane in each direction kept open. Drivers may encounter slower traffic and delays near construction zones. Work may be canceled because of traffic or weather and does not take place on holidays. Check the District’s seismic retrofit updates for notices before traveling.
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Why the retrofit matters—and what it cannot promise
The District’s seismic overview says earlier retrofit phases reduced the bridge’s collapse risk in a major earthquake, but significant damage to the main suspension bridge remained a concern until the full retrofit is complete. Its design criteria include a moderate earthquake defined as a 10% chance of exceedance in 50 years, or 0.46g, and a maximum credible earthquake defined as a 1,000-year return-period event, or 0.65g. The District compares the latter with the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which it lists as magnitude 8.3 on the Richter scale.
These are design criteria, not predictions of performance or assurances that the bridge will be undamaged or open after any particular earthquake. The District says the bridge can safely withstand a large earthquake today; the final phase is intended to strengthen post-disaster operability and support regional recovery. District seismic retrofit overview
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How the current schedule differs from earlier estimates
A December 2022 District announcement reported a $400 million Federal Highway Administration Bridge Investment Program grant and a then-current construction budget of $879 million. At that time, construction was expected to start in late 2024 and finish in 2029. Those were 2022 estimates; the District’s later project information reflects the phased work and the current Phase 3B period of 2026–2036. Current Phase 3 information · December 29, 2022 grant announcement and earlier estimates
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