A museum and visitor center would also be part of the project, aimed at raising as much as $9 million a year to help the bridge district erase a deficit.

Some of the ideas kicked around: taking visitors on tours beneath the span using catwalks, and possibly even a cable climb. The Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia has similar programs allowing visitors to walk on different areas of the span normally off limits for as much as $275.

"We want to get a firm that has already done this successfully," said Mary Currie, bridge district spokeswoman. "We want to look at a physical experience on the bridge in an area not open to the public. It is not yet defined."

It would be three to four years before a program would be established, Currie said.

The district is facing a five-year shortfall of $132 million - in large part brought on by a $75 million contribution to the $1.1 billion Doyle Drive reconstruction project - and is looking for ways to make ends meet. There is a plan to eliminate toll takers on the span, and a $1 toll hike is scheduled for 2013.

The Sydney Harbor Bridge makes about $3 million annually on its venture and gets about 2 million visitors a year. With about 10 million visitors and a bridge three times longer than the Sydney span, Golden Gate officials see the potential for a

"It would be providing enhanced access to the bridge in a safe way," said Celia Kupersmith, bridge general manager. "But we are an icon, we don't want to commercialize the bridge (with signs.)"

Bridge officials envision an area where people can pay their entrance fees and go on the tour.

"But there wouldn't be signs plastered all over," Kupersmith said.

The district is also looking at creating a visitors center and is looking at places that might be suitable. One plan involves a 50,000-square-foot layered building built into a hillside near the southeast corner of the span.

"It has been a long-held dream to have some sort of visitor center," Kupersmith said.

An area near the bridge is already set to undergo a transformation. A new, $3 million interactive science and engineering exhibit featuring a 92-foot-long replica of the bridge as well as hands-on displays will open at the south end of the span in 2012.

A visitor experience and a visitor center would combine with the project to increase visitor opportunities and add to the health of the district's pocketbook, officials said.

"It would be exciting if we could get something like this done," said Al Boro, bridge board president and San Rafael mayor.

Contact Mark Prado via e-mail at mprado@marinij.com