Senate Report Finds Caltrans Silenced Critics Of Bay Bridge Construction
SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- A Senate report finds senior officials overseeing construction of the $6.5 billion eastern span of the San Francisco Bay Bridge deliberately brushed off concerns about flawed work and there was a pattern of secrecy on the project.
The 64-page report released Thursday was commissioned by the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing in the wake of numerous reports of construction flaws, cost overruns and delays.
It came the same day a separate review by an independent panel of engineers found the engineering and design work met safety standards.
Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty calls the Senate report flawed. But he acknowledges that the process was too secretive and says the department is making changes.
The Senate report also says Caltrans officials knowingly accepted potentially hazardous welding work by a Chinese firm.
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