Tom Warne Report, 9 June 2013
Questions over corroded tendons, broken bolts and bad welds facing transportation officials over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge led to the announcement this week that the scheduled opening on Labor Day weekend would not be confirmed until July. Bay Area Toll Authority commissioners said officials are now giving a July 10 deadline to decide whether the opening would be delayed.
“We’re going to need a little more time,” said Metropolitan Transportation Commissioner executive director Steve Heminger at the Oakland meeting. “We’re not quite there yet. We absolutely want to do this right, and not be rushed.”
Gov. Jerry Brown has also ordered an independent, system-wide review of the California Department of Transportation, which is a central part of the controversy encompassing the new bridge construction. Gov. Brown told reporters that the review is not about the Bay Bridge but is intended to take “a fresh look at Caltrans as part of our government reorganization.”
Brian Kelly, acting secretary of the Business, Transportation & Housing Agency, said in a prepared statement that experts with the State Smart Transportation Initiative, based at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, will “take a fresh look at Caltrans operations and help improve performance, communications and management.”
