Golden Gate Bridge faces ‘unknown’ risk of collapse from vessel strike: NTSB bridge report
Mar 21, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The Golden Gate Bridge is one of several Bay Area spans that face "unknown levels of risk of collapse," according to a new report from the National Transportation and Safety Board. The report was produced by the NTSB as part of its ongoing response and investigation to the 20
24 containership collision that took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
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On March 26, 2024, the bridge was struck by the 984-foot Singapore-flagged cargo vessel "Dali," which was heading out of Baltimore Harbor when it experienced a loss of electrical power and propulsion. The shop struck Pier 17, the southern pier that supported the central span of the bridge.
The cargo ship Dali is stuck under part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship hit the bridge, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as seen from Pasadena, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
A portion of the bridge collapsed into the river and portions of the pier, deck, and truss spans collapsed on the vessel's forward deck. A seven-person road crew and an inspector were on the bridge when the ship hit it.
The inspector escaped unharmed, and one of the crew survived with serious injuries. The other six crew members died in the collapsed. One of the Dali's 23-person crew sustained a minor injury.
According to the NTSB, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of six Bay Area bridges that face an unknown level of risk of collapse from a similar strike. Other Bay Area bridges listed by the agency include:
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge -- Built in 1956
Carquinez Bridge -- Built in 1958
Benicia-Martinez Bridge -- Built in 1962
Antioch Bridge -- Built in 1978
San Mateo-Hayward Bridge -- Built in 1967
Of all the Bay Area bridges listed, the Golden Gate is the oldest, having been constructed in 1937. One bridge that's notably absent from the report is the San Francisco Bay Bridge.
All in all, the NTSB identified 68 bridges across the US that should be evaluated for risk of collapse from a vessel strike. Had such an evaluation been performed on the Francis Key Bridge, the report indicates, action could possibly have been taken to prevent the collapse.
"Today's report does not suggest that 68 bridges are certain to collapse," read a press release accompanying the report. "The NTSB is recommending that these 30 bridge owners evaluate whether the bridges are above the AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) acceptable levels of risk. The NTSB recommended that bridge owners develop and implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan, if the calculations indicate a bridge has a risk level about the AASHTO threshold."
The Golden Gate Bridge is owned by the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. All the other Bay Area bridges mentioned in the report are owned by the Bay Area Toll Authority. ...read more read less