Fact Check: Does the typical environmental review have a longer timeline than the Golden Gate Bridge’s construction?
No
Building the Golden Gate Bridge today might require a lengthier process than in the 1930s, but the average environmental review is shorter than the bridge’s construction timeline.
The Golden Gate Bridge was completed in 1937 after roughly four and a half years of construction. Feasibility studies for the bridge started in 1919.
In comparison, the median duration of completing an environmental impact statement (EIS) was just over two years in 2024.
A comparable project to the Golden Gate Bridge would likely have a longer environmental assessment timeline, however. It took eight years (2000-2008) to complete the EIS for the 1.6 mile-long Presidio Parkway approach to the Golden Gate Bridge. The bridge itself is 1.7 miles long.
Environmental impact statements assess the potential environmental consequences of infrastructure projects and provide opportunities for affected communities to submit public comments.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources:
Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District Bridge History and Construction FAQs
Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District Key Dates in Bridge District History
Council on Environmental Quality ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT TIMELINES (2010-2024)
Federal Register Environmental Impact Statement: San Francisco City and County, California
Golden Gate Bridge Highway & Transportation District Design & Construction Stats
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