LOMA PRIETA EARTHQUAKE: COLLAPSE OF THE BAY BRIDGE AND THE CYPRESS VIADUCT

On October 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck northern California, causing the collapse of a two-level, 1.25-mile-long section of the Cypress Viaduct on Interstate Route 880 in Oakland; 42 people were killed. A section of the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland also collapsed, resulting in one death. This report provides information on (1) what the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) knew about the structures' vulnerability to earthquake forces before they collapsed, (2) federal and state funding available and expended in California to strengthen bridge and viaduct structures subject to earthquake forces, and (3) funding needed to complete California's seismic retrofit program.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Report to Congressional Requesters.
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. General Accounting Office

  441 G Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20548
• Publication Date: 1990-6

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures;
• Pagination: 36 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Collapse; Earthquake resistant design; Earthquake resistant structures; Fatalities; Finance; Retrofitting; Strength of materials; Structural strengthening; Viaducts
• Identifier Terms: Loma Prieta Earthquake, October 17, 1989
• Uncontrolled Terms: Financial sources
• Old TRIS Terms: Financial requirements
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Finance; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00600576
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GAO/RCED-90-177
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1990 12:00AM