The Bay Bridge debacle is the most serious sign that Caltrans is a broken agency. There needs to be an immediate top-to-bottom review of its management and structure, followed by house cleaning and reorganization. It’s a tragedy that Californians pay the highest transportation taxes and have the worst roads to show for it.
This Week’s Bay Bridge News:
Fears of failure grow for rods on Bay Bridge eastern span
“Potentially widespread problems that experts warn could lead to premature failure…The rods are more vulnerable than Caltrans’ test results suggest.”
“It’s a very shoddy job all the way around…Clearly there was no quality assurance on anything…”
Golden Gate Bridge
Build Time: 4.5 years, completed 8 months ahead of schedule
Cost: $35 million, 4% under budget
Lifespan: 78 years old and counting
Declared: “Wonder of the Modern World”
SF/Oakland Bay Bridge-Eastern Span
Build Time: 11 years, completed 6 years behind schedule
Cost: $6.4 billion, at least 300% over budget
Lifespan: 2 yrs old, but design flaws could produce premature failure
Declared: “Most expensive public works project in California history”