Bay Bridge reopening now - repairs finished

[CreekDog]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

(09-08) 06:40 PDT OAKLAND --

The Bay Bridge will open this morning after all, Caltrans officials said today, saying crews were able to repair a crack in a steel link.

(snip)

"I'm here today to tell you that thanks to the exceptional teamwork and dedication, the Bay Bridge will be reopening this morning," Iwasaki said at a televised news briefing shortly after 6:10 a.m.

"Through the night, the crews have worked nonstop - for almost 70 hours - and were able to complete repair work on the damaged eyebar beam found over the weekend," Iwasaki said. "The bridge has been inspected, and it's safer than it was when we closed it on Friday."

(snip)

The 73-year-old bridge, crossed by more than 260,000 cars and trucks a day, was shut down over the Labor Day weekend for a previously scheduled seismic upgrade project. But on Saturday, inspectors found a cracked steel link, called an eyebar, that helps hold up the east span.

Caltrans said that problem by itself would have forced officials to shut down the bridge and said they would try to reopen the span by 5 a.m. today. Officials then pushed back the time of the bridge's reopening by 24 hours.

But at 6:30 a.m., a phalanx of California Highway Patrol officers began escorting the first few cars over the span.

Dan Himick, president of C.C. Myers, the contractor on the complex seismic project, said, "Last night was one of those nights where everything went perfect, and the crews got it done really, really fast. It's amazing how fast they got it done. Everything fit perfect, the fix is in place. It's really constructed well, as Randy said it's been fully inspected and it's really a nice piece of work."

(snip)

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/08/BA3E19K0E7.DTL&tsp=1

---

Government is maligned, but government often delivers.

Good job Caltrans and its contractors! :patriot: :applause:

[slackmaster]

1. Considering how long it takes to do most road projects in the Bay Area...

...It's amazing how fast Caltrans can get things done when a situation inconveniences enough people.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Now if they could just finish that 580-880-238 mess in San Leandro they've been doing for decades...

I would be impressed!

[CreekDog]

3. I can't wait until that goes to three lanes

but it's not in "hurry-up".

[Brother Buzz]

7. C.C. Myers is the magical contractor making it all happen

They often make headlines finishing jobs early. This is their fourth job in my recent memory that beat the deadline (well, this one missed it by an hour but considering the curve thrown at them, they get credit in my book).

[CreekDog]

8. Give credit to Caltrans' engineers as well

quite a feat to build this segment of bridge while basically keeping the tunnel it attaches to, open for traffic nearly 24/7.

[Brother Buzz]

11. Sure, and it's teamwork that makes the machine runs smooth

[NBachers]

4. Great pictures of my hometown

and a surprise gift to the Bay Area- Congratulations, Caltrans, and everyone who worked hard to make this happen.

[onehandle]

5. UFO in Second Photo! UFO in Second Photo!

It couldn't possibly be a blimp, helicopter, or airplane.

It must be a UFO!

[defendandprotect]

15. Who -- other than you -- is saying that?

[question everything]

6. As I was watching these news I could not help thinking

about how much money many made in the 2002-2007 time period, and yet nothing was spent on infrastructure. What, billionaires do not use bridges and roads? Do not get rely on water and sewer grids of pipes?

But, no... whenever a government has a hint of surplus, the cries come: this is MY money. Give it back. Now!

[noiretextatique]

9. i am glad i don't work in the city anymore

two exit commute on the 580 east works for me.

[CreekDog]

10. I work in the city, but avoid the tunnel/bridge or BART when I moved from Walnut Crk. to Peninsula

I loved Walnut Creek, but I hated those constant bottlenecks that kept me from this side of the bay (or even this side of the tunnel!).

[noiretextatique]

12. cool...i prefer to stay on one side of any bridge these days

or tunnel :7 if i find a job on the peninsula, i will have to move that way.

[burrowowl]

13. Fast Repair Job!

Hats off!

[defendandprotect]

14. Heavily increased truck traffic isn't helping any of our roads -- and here in NJ

about 5 years ago our Legislature let trucks onto our local roads and streets!!!

PLUS the truck traffic is a further hazard for pedestrians and auto traffic/drivers.

Recently, we had a 18 wheeler topple over on one of our main streets!!!

Fortunately, no one was hurt!