San Francisco Bay/Emperor Norton Bridge troll on display

I’ve heard many tales of the troll under the Emperor Norton Bay Bridge and I’ve long wanted to see it. Secretly installed during the 1989 earthquake repairs, the troll has only been visible from below the bridge. Construction crews spirited the creature away, to the Oakland Museum of California, before demolition of the old span occurs.

The troll, who has no name, was created and surreptitiously installed in 1989 on a quickly fabricated section of bridge deck that replaced the pieces that collapsed in the Loma Prieta earthquake. He remained out of sight – only bridge workers and boaters could see him on the north side of the span – and cast his magic to protect the bridge and its users. In early September, when the new eastern span opened, the troll was spirited away by ironworkers, who wanted to make sure he was free before demolition of the old span began

SF Chronicle: Bay Bridge’s mysterious protector out of hiding