Press Conference, Safety Come First, on the Golden Gate Bridge

Retractable Delineator System tm
By: Robert M. Guernsey & Associates,
Conceptualist in Design & Engineering.
46 Elm Avenue - San Anselmo, CA. 94960-2210
United States Patent # 5,498,100
In cooperation with: Mr. Robert Atchison
Rexroth Worldwide Pneumatic Division Sales Manager

This project would not have been possibility with out the dedication and perseverance of two men, Robert Atchison/ District Sales Manager, Engineering Mannesmann Rexroth, Rexroth Mecman Pneumatics Division, and Robert M. Guernsey/President & CEO, Robert M. Guernsey & Associates/Conceptualist in Design & Engineering. Imagine a dream in saving lives on the world famous, Golden Gate Bridge, between Marin & San Francisco counties. A concept no other man had dream of. Just imagine one man's dream of placing 5.50 miles of the strongest steel availably to mankind, between opposing lanes of traffic flow. Will, one man had that dream in October of 1989. Robert Guernsey, of San Anselmo, CA. And because of this, an organization was born: "©Citizens for a Safe Golden Gate Bridge." But his first concept was a movable median traffic barrier, made of concrete, but constructed in a completely new manor than BSI's. (First 1conceptualist drawing of movable traffic barrier)

There are a number of solutions in prevent head-on collisions on the Golden Gate Bridge. For example, we have proposed a true barrier system that can retract below the road surface, yet when activated forms a physical separation between opposing lanes of traffic, across 62 feet of road surface, creating two eleven foot lanes, and four ten foot lanes.

System's Specifications & Configuration:

The Retractable Barrier is comprised of three individual groups, therefore creating it's movability. Each barrier group is 1.73 miles in length from the Marin abutment to San Francisco toll plaza. The barrier is permanent, only until the lane workers change the configuration at the next scheduled change-over time, as described below.

The Retractable Barrier is comprised of 732 pneumatic actuators to create one complete barrier group, times (x) three groups = 2,196 actuating cylinders, giving you a total three movable barriers and controlled by a on-site computer, each safety truck vehicle driver will have a digital remote hand-held controller device to assure a smooth transition between each change-over. The actuating change-over time will be between 14-18 minutes across the bridge.

The steel galvanized rectangular tube is six inches by two inches (as shown in the lower right portion of the photograph), and is affixed to the rod of the actuator. When fully extended in the up position the tube creates a permanent barrier between you and the opposing lane and is illuminated for your sight line. During each scheduled change-over the lane workers and safety vehicles drive between the lanes that will be changed over, as this is completed the new lane configuration will be raised out of the road surface, and the old configuration will be lowered into the road surface simultaneously, creating a new lane configuration and a permanent barrier to meet the
traffic demand, based on the twenty-four hour period.

These lane changes will occur during your daily commute- Monday-Friday, as follows:

1. Early morning: 5:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. the barrier configuration Monday-Friday for the commuters working in San Francisco is as follows: four (4) lanes southbound to San Francisco and two (2) lanes northbound to Marin.

2. For mid-day Commuting: 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. three (3) lanes southbound and three (3) lane northbound.

3. Afternoon Commute: 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. two (2) southbound lanes to San Francisco, and four (4) northbound lanes to Marin County

4. Late Night Commute: 8:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. two (2) lanes southbound, two (2) buffer lanes and two (2) northbound lanes.