BAY BRIDGE: Signature span may not open for several months

May 30, 2013

The opening of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge may be delayed for months, according the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

 

“We absolutely want to do what’s right and not be rushed,” MTC Executive Director Steven Heminger told the San Francisco Chronicle.

 

The opening of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge may be delayed for months, according the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

“We absolutely want to do what’s right and not be rushed,” MTC Executive Director Steven Heminger told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Officials have until July 10 to decide if the new iconic span will open by the original kick-off date of Sept. 3. The reason Labor Day weekend was the target date originally was because Caltrans needs to shut down the existing Bay Bridge for several days to make the transition to the new bridge. Holiday traffic is expected to be light. However, it could be months before the next opportunity comes when congestion will be lighter than normal.

“The thing I fear most is if we lose [Sept. 3], are we going to get one back?” said Heminger.

Extensive testing still needs to be done on 192 steel rods which came from the same fabricator that manufactured the ones that failed. Also, Mare Island is handling the $10 million replacement of the 32 rods that snapped, and the fabricator just received the order. Officials plan on submerging some of the rods still in place in saltwater and tightening them over time to measure their strength against corrosion in a marine environment.

Sponsored Recommendations

The Science Behind Sustainable Concrete Sealing Solutions

Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...

Powerful Concrete Protection For ANY Application

PoreShield protects concrete surfaces from water, deicing salts, oil and grease stains, and weather extremes. It's just as effective on major interstates as it is on backyard ...

Concrete Protection That’s Easy on the Environment and Tough to Beat

PoreShield's concrete penetration capabilities go just as deep as our American roots. PoreShield is a plant-based, eco-friendly alternative to solvent-based concrete sealers.

Proven Concrete Protection That’s Safe & Sustainable

Real-life DOT field tests and university researchers have found that PoreShieldTM lasts for 10+ years and extends the life of concrete.