When many think of structures in San Francisco the first image to come to mind is probably that of the Golden Gate Bridge or perhaps the Transamerica tower and San Francisco's Skyline. Granted some will instantly recognize the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge often just called the Bay Bridge. If you visit San Francisco, you're likely to see the Bay Bridge first as it towers above the Embarcadero and San Francisco's skyline and can be seen from many locations on the eastern side of San Francisco.

Built roughly the same time as the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge was finished before the Golden Gate and supports two levels with the upper level being westbound while the lower section travels eastward towards Oakland and the East Bay Area. While much longer than the Golden Gate Bridge, each suspension span is smaller and the towers shorter by a few hundred feet. The Bay Bridge consists of two main sections, a suspension section and a cantilever section on the Oakland side of Yerba Buena island which is currently being replaced with a modern suspension design set to open in 2013.