Flying cars, smart sensors, and even more tourists – how will the Golden Gate Bridge look in 100 years?
As the Golden Gate Bridge approaches its 100th birthday in 2033, it’s natural to look ahead to the future of this iconic landmark.
We researched future technologies, the current state of the bridge, and more to predict what the Golden Gate Bridge will look like 100 years in the future.
Millions of Cars
Today, the Golden Gate Bridge serves approximately 37 million vehicles per year.
That includes hundreds of thousands of trucks going to the Port of Oakland and other commercial centers.
It also supports people commuting from Marin and around the Bay Area. As of 2020, the bridge accommodated 90,000 vehicles per day.
As the San Francisco Bay area grows into the future, and its development extends to the north, the bridge will likely continue to see a similar level of traffic, or perhaps even more.
It’s not likely that the Bay Area will be able to extend the width of the bridge. That means there may be even more congestion in the future.
EVTOLs Relieve the Strain
That said, a new technology that is currently being tested in a few cities around the world could take some of the strain off the bridge.
EVTOLs are essentially gigantic drones that are large enough for people to ride in.
They serve a bit like autonomous air taxis, transporting passengers to and from their destinations without the need for a pilot.
These incredible flying machines are already being tested in the real world. In 100 years, they will likely be a much more common form of transportation, particularly in congested cities like San Francisco.
If EVTOLs indeed take off, they could easily relieve a lot of strain on the bridge. There could be fewer cars crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in 100 years than there are today!
Smart sensors keep the bridge standing
The Golden Gate Bridge already requires millions of dollars per year in maintenance. Repainting the bridge, securing it against earthquakes, and more is an ongoing, continuous process.
That process will continue for the next century. Newer technologies, though, will likely make it easier.
Smart sensors are already being installed on bridges around the country, and they’re likely to make their way to the Golden Gate Bridge. These sensors could detect minor strains placed on the bridge, erosion of paint, and more to predict future problems before they happen.
The use of smart sensors will make the bridge much easier to maintain because crews could focus their efforts on the most at-risk parts of the bridge, instead of having to constantly repaint and refinish the entire thing.
The impact of climate change
In 100 years, the Earth is almost certainly going to be a warmer place than it is today. It’s also likely that sea levels will rise.
That means that the Golden Gate Bridge will need to adapt to this changing climate. Already, the largest ships that pass under the bridge clear the span by as little as 15 feet.
In the future, that might not be enough. Engineers may need to raise the level of the bridge, or certain larger ships might simply be shut out of visiting the Port of Oakland or other areas that require passing through the bridge.
Mostly for Tourists
If advanced new technologies, like EVTOLs, really do replace cars, it’s possible that the Golden Gate Bridge won’t be needed very much at all.
In that case, it’s likely to still remain standing as a major tourist attraction and symbol of San Francisco.
Plenty of cities have iconic, massive structures that don’t serve an immediate purpose. The St. Louis Arch, for example, doesn’t do anything other than serve as a symbol of St. Louis.
It’s possible that in 100 years, new technologies will replace the car, and the Golden Gate Bridge will become more of a giant tourist attraction, or perhaps a walking path in the style of New York City’s High Line, than an active bridge.
Whatever the future holds, it’s almost certain that the bridge will continue to stand. Despite being almost 100 years old, the Golden Gate Bridge is still in great shape due to its continuous maintenance process.
Although we may not be around to see it in 100 years, we’re excited to imagine the possibilities of what might be in the future.
