Bay Bridge State, National, International, posted by Lisa, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2009 at 10:00 am
I don't want the Bay Bridge to open again until they do a competent job. I heard a Berkeley professor of bridge stuff and and a bridge stuff engineer on the radio and they both said when an 'i' bar (or whatever it's called), gets a crack in it, they will all get cracks because they're the same age. The Berkeley guy said the cracks are hairline, often can't be seen with the naked eye and there is paint on them, further obscuring the cracks. He said Caltrans is guilty of many violations. There are other ways to check for cracks that don't rely on sight, and he said that must be done. All those 'i' bars are old and will crack.
Just because the Bay Bridge opens doesn't mean it's safe, just like it wasn't.
Posted by Agreed, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Nov 1, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Although I feel a bit as if I was just reading an Emily Litella post "what's this I hear about 'I' bars... and what does this stuff have to do with 'I', I mean 'me'??"
And a "professor of bridge stuff" is more commonly known as a "structural engineer".
But yes, let's make certain that the bridge is inspected so that it's quite a bit safer than the last time it was repaired hurriedly, even though nothing is ever certain.
Posted by Tom, a resident of the Stoneridge Park neighborhood, on Nov 2, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Lisa,
The failed bridge parts, as I understand it, were part of fixes to some recently installed bridge rigging. Stress fractures are common to just about every structural piece of mechanical equipment. If you feel the bridge isn't safe, it might be in your best interest to use alternate routes. It might even be in your best interest to consider the safety of any mechanical system the next time you drive your car or fly in an airplane or travel on a boat or train for that matter.
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