Golden Gate Bridge Due For Retrofit

The Golden Gate Bridge is getting more federal money for a retrofit project designed to make it strong enough to withstand a major earthquake. Congress earmarked the extra $4.25 million dollars in the supplemental spending bill lawmakers hammered out earlier this month. The Bay Area´s congressional representatives announced the appropriation today. The money will be used to finish strengthening the support structures on the south approach of the bridge, including the Fort Point Arch. After the seven-point-one magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake, engineers determined that temblor was the strongest the bridge could tolerate.

The complete retrofit is expected to cost about $388 million dollars. The new allocation brings the fed´s share so far to $40 million dollars.