WATCH: San Francisco's Bay Bridge rebuilt in 4 time-lapse minutes

The newly opened eastern span of the Bay Bridge took 11 years to build. EarthCam makes it look easy.

San Francisco Bay Bridge
(Image credit: EarthCam)

At 10:15 Monday night, the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opened to traffic, about seven hours ahead of schedule and $5 billion over budget. The $6.4 billion, self-anchored, single-tower suspension span replaces the earthquake-vulnerable eastern span that partially collapsed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, as the San Francisco Giants were playing the Oakland A's in the World Series.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.