Salvaged steel from Bay Bridge demolition to be used for public art

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Salvaged steel from the old eastern span of the Bay Bridge will be recycled into public art and history projects throughout California under a program supervised by the Oakland Museum of California, museum officials announced Wednesday.

The Bay Bridge Steel Program will distribute the steel from the bridge's demolition to artists proposing projects that celebrate the bridge and its history.

The Oakland museum has formed a committee to review proposed projects and award the available cleaned and salvaged steel in cooperation with the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee and the Bay Area Toll Authority.

"The museum is delighted to have the opportunity to step forward and assist the creative community as a facilitator of this civic and public art process," Oakland Museum of California CEO Lori Fogarty said in a statement. "The Bay Bridge is an important historical resource and a beloved historic landmark."

Projects must be intended for public display within California and must celebrate or evoke the bridge and its history, museum officials said.

Applications and information are available here. The first round of applications are due by Oct. 1, although museum officials expect to conduct another two rounds of applications, depending on the amount of steel available.