Tom Warne Report, 18 May 2013
Associated Press – May 14, 2013
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge’s $6.3 billion eastern portion “has a fighting chance” of opening by the end of the year, in spite recent structural concerns, officials overseeing the construction reported Tuesday. State lawmakers grilled officials in charge of the project and their decision to use a specific type of seismic safety rods, as 32 broke when they were tightened in March.
With the Labor Day opening threatened by the rods failure, State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord called the hearing before the state Senate Transportation and Housing Committee.
Bridge officials said further testing will be needed before they can determine if the rods need to be replaced immediately or just monitored after the bridge has been opened to traffic.
If immediate replacement is required, the scheduled Labor Day opening will most likely be pushed back. If the safety of the remaining rods can be verified by crews and the $20 million repairs to the broken ones can be completed, officials say there is still a possibility of a Labor Day opening.
