Bay Bridge 1940s: A Glimpse into Traffic Patterns

This silent film clip from the 1940s, featured in the "Lost Landscapes of San Francisco 2015" presentation, offers a historical look at traffic on the upper deck of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

Traffic and Design: The footage shows two sets of three lanes on the upper deck, accommodating traffic flow in both directions. The vehicles of the era, with their distinctive, bulkier designs, are seen navigating these narrower lanes, providing insight into how traffic management was handled before modern standards.
Historical Context: This configuration of the bridge would change in the late 1950s when significant alterations were made. The lower deck's Key System trains were removed, the Yerba Buena Island tunnel was expanded, and the upper deck was reconfigured to handle one-way traffic with only five lanes, reflecting changes in transportation needs and bridge design.

This segment is particularly valuable for understanding the evolution of one of San Francisco's most iconic structures, showcasing not just the bridge's use but also the era's automotive culture and urban planning decisions.