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Condos Under SF Bridge? Blogosphere Loves It

The Bay Line, aka Bay Bridge to Nowhere, is catching on

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 31, 2009 5:44 AM CDT

(Newser) – With the eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge due to go out of commission when its replacement is completed (current ETA: 2013), a campaign is amping up in the blogosphere to keep it around as a pimped-out version of New York’s popular High Line. The Bay Line—or, as one blogger dubs it, the Bay Bridge to Nowhere—would include condos, parks, swimming pools and other amenities normally found on land.

The Oakland architect who came up with the plan downplays seismic concerns, telling Curbed SF that if the span can hold up 40-ton trucks and 280,000 commuters a day, a 5,000-pound, three-bedroom condo is small potatoes. “The estimated cost for this—admittedly at this point, almost convincing—flight of fancy?” Andy J. Wang writes. “$723 million.”

Another look at the so-called Bay Line, with the new eastern span, currently under construction, at top.
Another look at the so-called Bay Line, with the new eastern span, currently under construction, at top.   (Rael San Fratello Architects)
How condominiums might fit on the bridge once the span is no longer being used by vehicles.
How condominiums might fit on the bridge once the span is no longer being used by vehicles.   (Rael San Fratello Architects)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
cognitivefilter
Nov 3, 2009 5:13 AM CST
i don't see how it would work.
Timinator2K
Nov 2, 2009 1:45 AM CST
First eathquake and its "Splish Splash They Was a Drownin'" if the fall didn't kill them all first. Aesthetics would be total shit.
JimW
Nov 1, 2009 7:06 AM CST
Not a great idea. That bridge has plenty of trouble holding ITSELF up....

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