EDITORIAL: Is the Bay Bridge safe?

By the BEE Editorial Board, Fresno Bee

From its outward appearance, the gleaming new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is a marvel and an architectural wonder. But as we have learned since November 2011, its construction was troubled and oversight was deeply flawed.

For more than 30 months, Sacramento Bee reporter Charles Piller has been digging into what happened during the construction of the $6.5 billion span, which replaced the double-deck eastern section that failed during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

On June 22, Piller disclosed how the company approved by Caltrans to provide critical welds was unqualified and did shoddy work. Rather than reject the cracked welds, Caltrans relaxed its standards … more

 

By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.

Want to Learn More?

See how the USW is making a real difference in our communities and our workplaces.