The integrated geotechnical approach has provided efficient, cost effective; accurate data far design and construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SFOBB) East Span Replacement. The new structure will span over 4 km from Yerba Buena Island to the Oakland shore, and will carry over 280,000 motor vehicles per day. Geotechnical studies included land-and marine geophysical surveys (2D and high resolution 3D seismic refraction), conventional land drilling, and sophisticated marine drilling and in situ testing. An onboard laboratory allowed the collected subsurface data to be immediately incorporated into the project geotechnical Geographic Information System(GIS). This approach also allowed site characterization and earthquake site response analyses to proceed concurrently with the site investigation, thus shortening the overall timeframe for design. This paper describes the marine exploration and site characterization activities for the project.