New Bay Bridge Bolt Fix On Track For Fall Completion
OAKLAND (KCBS) - Caltrans officials said on Monday that they are on track to install new steel saddles for all of the broken bolts that were found on the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge earlier this year. The work should be completed by the end of this fall, according to Caltrans.
Thirty-two of the 96 bolts that were being tightened last March snapped, forcing Caltrans to consider delaying the bridge opening on Labor Day weekend due to safety concerns. Later it was determined that bridge was safe enough for cars and trucks to travel above so that crews could work below on a steel-saddle fix developed by engineers.
Caltrans Says Bay Bridge Bolt Fix Is On Schedule
Caltrans spokesman Andrew Gordon said that there's been much progress made on the westbound side of the span.
"All the pieces of the steel saddles themselves are in place. The steel saddles are going to carry these steel tendons," he said.
"When the steel tendons are tensioned that will provide the same clamping force that those bolts were supposed to provide."
The eastbound side will be next and Gordon said that Caltrans is targeting month of December to have the work for the permanent fix installed—at a cost of $10 million.
Gordon said the bridge has been monitored since it opened they have notice no other structural issues.
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