California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Golden Gate to Get Shock Treatment

Engineers are designing huge shock absorbers strong enough to slow and dampen movement of the Golden Gate Bridge during a major earthquake. The shock absorbers were among some of the $134 million of improvements outlined in a progress report to the bridge board. The bridge’s chief engineer, Daniel E. Mohn, said engineers are working on a design that would stop the suspended portion of the bridge from ramming into the two 746-foot high towers. Detailed engineering will take two years and construction three years, according to Charles Seim of T.Y. Lin engineers.