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Newsjock

(11,733 posts) Wed Mar 27, 2013, 12:57 AM Mar 2013

30 of 288 giant bolts on new SF Bay Bridge have snapped, even before opening [View all]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

At least 30 of the giant bolts that hold together the new, $6.4 billion eastern span of the Bay Bridge have snapped.

As a result, Caltrans is considering replacing all 288 of the bolts on the new bridge before it opens, The Chronicle has learned.

Caltrans insists the new span is safe and that plans to open it the day after Labor Day are still on track.

... Unlike the Chinese-built deck sections, the bolts - some as long 17 feet - were produced in the United States.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Bridge-inspections-busted-bolts-4386943.php

33 replies

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30 of 288 giant bolts on new SF Bay Bridge have snapped, even before opening [View all] Newsjock Mar 2013 OP

Chinese bolts made with pot metal and no QC Hekate Mar 2013 #1

Oddly enough, the bolts were US made RedCappedBandit Mar 2013 #4

That'll larn me to read the link, won't it Hekate Mar 2013 #5

Safe to assume they have 'larned' Riftaxe Mar 2013 #6

There have been lots of problems with Chinese-made sheet rock being amandabeech Mar 2013 #24

Not Good! burrowowl Mar 2013 #2

Wow. Interesting. As an engineer, I sometimes like to hear about problems. Gregorian Mar 2013 #3

do some research on the new 520 floating bridge in Seattle. Crappy construction being done. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #8

I think the blame there was on crapy specifications. nm rhett o rick Mar 2013 #17

... And poor design. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2013 #19

The story doesn't say who made the bolts.... "Cover up"? nt AnotherDreamWeaver Mar 2013 #7

The concrete deck sections were made in Stockton, California, and sent to site on barges. NYC_SKP Mar 2013 #9

Not good! n/t Yo_Mama Mar 2013 #10

Wonder if the bolts are the type used in Iraq. Spitfire of ATJ Mar 2013 #11

NASA developed NDE for all kinds of bolts Duppers Mar 2013 #12

Boeing can't build safe airplanes, and Americans can't build bridges. Another bolt in the coffin. leveymg Mar 2013 #13

uh...no green for victory Mar 2013 #16

Drones are not exactly high tech. JVS Mar 2013 #20

Boeings problem is that it assembled the plane in Seattle after contracting amandabeech Mar 2013 #25

The grounding had nothing to do with suppliers. This is 100% on Boeing BlueStreak Mar 2013 #30

And what else . . . NBachers Mar 2013 #14

Sounds like the steel used to build the Titanic. BVictor1 Mar 2013 #15

Hydrogen contamination is a problem that has been around a long time BlueStreak Mar 2013 #32

It shouldnt matter where they were made if the specifications and quality control were thorough. rhett o rick Mar 2013 #18

Where's the profit in that? Thav Mar 2013 #21

As someone who will be driving on that bridge -- Hell Hath No Fury Mar 2013 #22

The US infrastructure has been falling apart for quite some time... OldDem2012 Mar 2013 #23

That is old infastructure that needs repair/replacement -- Hell Hath No Fury Mar 2013 #29

Ummm... don't follow this link. gcomeau Mar 2013 #26

Inspections, another case made for "Big Governement"..... Bennyboy Mar 2013 #27

Think how much Money they saved.... formercia Mar 2013 #28

All so we can employ the Chinese to build it! Sirveri Mar 2013 #33

Aw shit... Taverner Mar 2013 #31