Golden Gate Bridge
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As the only road to exit San Francisco to the north, the bridge is part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1 and on an average day there are 100,000 vehicles crossing the bridge. The bridge has six total lanes of vehicle traffic, and walkways on both sides of the bridge. The median markers between the lanes are moved to conform to traffic patterns. On weekday mornings, traffic flows mostly southbound into the city, so four of the six lanes run southbound. Conversely, on weekday afternoons, four lanes run northbound. While there has been discussion concerning the installation of a movable barrier since the 1980s, the Bridge Board of Directors, in March 2005, committed to finding funding to complete the $2 million study required prior to the installation of a moveable median barrier. The eastern walkway is for pedestrians and bicycles during the weekdays and during daylight hours only, and the western walkway is open to bicyclists on weekday afternoons, weekends, and holidays. The speed limit on the Golden Gate Bridge was reduced from 55 mph (88 km/h) to 45 mph (72 km/h) on October 1, 1983.
On September 1, 2002, the toll for Southbound motor vehicles was raised from US$3.00 to $5.00. Northbound motor vehicle traffic, cycling, and pedestrian traffic remain toll free.
On November 10, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Bridge District of the California Department of Transportation recommended a corporate sponsorship program for the bridge, as it has been losing money for several years. The Public Information Committee has said that any sponsorship program will not include changing the name of the bridge, or placing advertising on the bridge itself, although it's not clear what such a deal would include. As of 2006, Phase I of the project, which involved investigating potential sponsors of the bridge and analyzing the fiscal benefits has been completed, and Phase II, actual implementation of the program, is awaiting a go-ahead from the Board
Aesthetics
The color of the bridge is an orange vermilion called International orange. The color was selected by consulting architect Irving Morrow because it blends well with the natural surroundings yet enhances the bridge's visibility in fog. The bridge is widely considered one of the most beautiful examples of bridge engineering, both as a structural design challenge and for its aesthetic appeal. It was declared one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. According to Frommer's travel guide, the Golden Gate Bridge is “possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world.” (although Frommers also bestows the “most photographed” honor on Tower Bridge)
Aesthetics was the foremost reason why the first design of Joseph Strauss was rejected. Upon re-submission of his bridge construction plan, he added details, such as lighting to outline the bridge's cables and towers.
The Golden Gate Bridge has a similar sister bridge in Lisbon, Portugal. The red-painted Ponte 25 de Abril (25th April Bridge) is 2,278 meters long and spans 1,013 m.
The aesthetics of the bridge are often cited as a prime reason to not erect a suicide barrier on the bridge.
Paintwork
The bridge was originally painted with red lead primer and a lead-based topcoat, which was touched up as required. In the mid-1960s, a program was started to improve corrosion protection by stripping the original paint off and repainting the bridge with zinc silicate primer and, originally, vinyl topcoats. Acrylic topcoats have been used instead since 1990 for air quality reasons. The program was completed in 1995, and there is now maintenance by 38 painters to touch up the paintwork where it becomes seriously eroded.
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