Before you, rises the Lefty O’Doul Bridge. It is also known as the 3rd Street Bridge. This bascule bridge connects two vibrant San Francisco neighborhoods. These are China Basin and Mission Bay.
The Lefty O’Doul Bridge carries Third Street over the Mission Creek Channel. Its location is right next to Oracle Park. The bridge is more than just a way to cross water. It’s a piece of San Francisco history.
The 3rd Street Bridge opened on May 12, 1933. Mayor Angelo Joseph Rossi attended the ceremony. Joseph Strauss designed it. He was also the chief engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge. Back then, the bridge carried everyone. Pedestrians, cars, streetcars and trains all used it.
In 1980, the city renamed it the Lefty O’Doul Bridge. This honored baseball player Lefty O’Doul. He was a local legend. Before the ballpark opened next door in 1999, the bridge was updated. The park was originally named Pacific Bell Park.
Today, the Lefty O’Doul Bridge handles a lot of traffic. It has five lanes. Usually, the two eastern lanes go north. The two western lanes go south. The middle lane can switch directions.
When there are events at Oracle Park, things change. The two eastern lanes become pedestrian-only. The next two lanes can then switch directions. This helps with the crowds.
The Lefty O’Doul Bridge has appeared in movies. It was in the Dirty Harry film “The Enforcer”. James Bond drove a fire truck over it in “A View to a Kill”. It also featured in the movie “San Andreas”.
The 3rd Street Bridge has undergone rehabilitation. The project cost 27.3 million dollars. It finished in March 2020. American Bridge company completed the work.
The Lefty O’Doul Bridge is approximately 295 feet long. It is 80 feet wide. The bridge has walkways for people to stroll on each side. The draw span goes up. It lets boats go through Mission Channel.
Before the current bridge, there was another bridge. In the early 1900s, trains needed to cross Mission Creek. The first 3rd Street Bridge was a Page Bascule design.
The 1906 earthquake damaged the first 3rd Street Bridge. Its anchor piers were knocked out of alignment. Repairs took five months.
The current 3rd Street Bridge is a single-leaf heel trunion type. Joseph Strauss designed it. The bridge originally had tracks for streetcars and railroads.
Lefty O’Doul was born and raised in San Francisco. He played for the San Francisco Seals. Later, he opened a restaurant on Geary Street.
The Lefty O’Doul Bridge continues to serve San Francisco. It carries people to baseball games and beyond. It stands as a testament to the city’s history and its connection to the Bay.