I posted this here a while back. I sent an e-mail--pretty much an exact copy of the post--to the bridge authorities at the same time.

This is the response I got today:

Subject:
RE: Golden Gate Bridge weak point needs to be guarded.
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 2001 09:54:13 -0800
From: bridgecomments <bridgecomments@goldengate.org>



Thanks for taking the time to comment. We understand your concerns and they will be forwarded to appropriate parties for review and consideration. The Management Team and Board of Directors are discussing Bridge security on a continuing basis.

Your specific concerns are areas of the Bridge that we are monitoring
closely. The unlocked gate is disturbing and I will pass that on to our
Bridge Manager.

Truck traffic across the Golden Gate Bridge is a very, very small percentage of our traffic. In fact, in July 2001, 3,545,106 vehicles crossed the bridge and of those 23,242 were multi-axle vehicles including multi-axle trucks. CHP is monitoring truck traffic and in charge of making any determination as to whether or not truck traffic would need to be stopped and inspected. In addition, by having the sidewalks closed at night, we can remain more focused on the roadway activities at night when it is more challenging. We are using an extensive collaborative structure of law enforcement agencies
who work together to monitor intelligence and coordinate with the FBI. To date, there has been no credible threat that warrants inspecting traffic and/or inspecting trucks specifically. Also, because truck traffic is so low on the Bridge, it makes it easier to determine when something is suspicious.

Here is some additional information our security coordination efforts at the Golden Gate Bridge that may be of interest to you. Security at and adjacent to the Golden Gate Bridge is undertaken through the collaborative efforts of the following federal, state, and local jurisdictions on a 24 hour per day, 7 days per week basis.

Before and since the events of 9/11/01 the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has done consistently and aggressively undertaken efforts to secure the Golden Gate Bridge through the collaborative agency structure outlined below. Details of security measures existing prior to September 11 and implemented since then will not be discussed.

The Golden Gate Bridge is continually reevaluating, reassessing and
improving its security measures. We do this not only in response to specific events but also as appropriate technologies change and/or emerge. The Golden Gate Bridge is a public use facility; we are doing everything within our power to ensure the security measures that can be implemented are in place.

Immediately following the 9/11 events on the East Coast, the team of
agencies outlined below mobilized and took the following actions:

Closed the sidewalks of the Bridge (since partially reopened on October 1)

Closed the parking areas on both sides of the span (since partially reopened on October 1)

Closed Fort Point National Historic Site (since reopened on October 1)

Significantly increased the number of CHP personnel on and near the Golden Gate Bridge

Significantly increased the number of US Park Police personnel at Fort
Point, Fort Point Overlook, on the north side at the parking area on the west side and in the Marin Headlands

Increased the number of District personnel in various locations throughout the span

Added National Guard to the team of security on Friday, November 2, 2001.

Since 9/11 and continuing through today, close coordination, including
regular briefings, among these agencies is in place.

1) U.S. Coast Guard has responsibility for enforcing federal laws as they pertain to the waters under and adjacent to the Golden Gate Bridge.

2) National Park Service, specifically Golden Gate National Recreation Area, has responsibility for enforcing federal laws as they pertain to the federal lands in which the Golden Gate Bridge is anchored on both sides. This includes the Marin Headlands located on the northwest side of the Bridge and Fort Baker on the northeast side, and includes the parking lot located right at the northwest side of the Bridge. On the south side, the Fort Point National Historic Site is within national park jurisdiction and is located adjacent to the Fort Point Arch span of the Golden Gate Bridge.

3) Under the California Streets and Highway Code section 27177, the
California Highway Patrol (CHP) is responsible for providing police services to the Golden Gate Bridge. The CHP, in close coordination with GGBHTD, determines the resource levels required to secure the Golden Gate Bridge.

4) The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has security personnel on duty at the Golden Gate Bridge on a 24/7 basis. The District's security force is responsible for maintaining the safe flow of traffic and safe conditions on the sidewalks among other duties. These duties are carried out in close coordination on a 24/7 basis with the CHP, US Park Police and US Coast Guard.

5) FBI and local law enforcement agencies including SFPD and Marin County Sheriffs Office. We collaborate and coordinate with these agencies for information and backup resources, as they become necessary. The FBI provides intelligence and advice on terrorist activities and security measures to protect against them.

6) Caltrans has authority over the Vista Point parking lot on the north east side of the Bridge.

Thanks again for commenting.

Mary C. Currie
Public Information Director
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District

We operate Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Ferry and Golden Gate Transit buses.



I was pleasantly surprised by this detailed response and found it quite reassuring. I was surprised that truck traffic was less than 1 percent of total bridge traffic, which would indeed make truck-by-truck inspections feasible should alert status get that high.

My newspaper printed this report on other precautions being taken as well (note: link may expire or be moved to "pay" area).

Generally, I am satisfied that the situation is under control. Despite the withdrawal of the "warning," these bridges are still attractive targets.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Brosz [mailto:tbrosz@ionix.net]
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2001 3:35 PM
To: bridgecomments
Subject: Golden Gate Bridge weak point needs to be guarded.

Dear sirs:

I took my family to the Golden Gate Bridge last weekend, along with some
relatives. My wife and a couple of members of the family don't walk all that
well, so there was no particular temptation to walk out on the bridge even
if I hadn't been a little nervous about it. We went to the scenic overlook
at the North end of the bridge, and then I saw the bridge's weak point.

The center of the bridge, the towers, the cables, the bridge proper, seem
almost indestructible. The concrete tower footings cannot be approached
stealthily, and are designed to shrug off ship collisions. The rest of the
structure is highly distributed, built to resist massive earthquakes, and
would require a tremendous force to wreck. I assume that the towers
themselves are well-guarded from internal access. To wreck a tower from the
roadway with a truck