S.F. Chronicle image
The S.F. Chronicle reports that at least 30 of the giant bolts that hold together the new,
$6.4 billion eastern span of the Bay Bridge have snapped. The Chronicle reports Caltrans is considering replacing all 288 bolts holding the new construction together. These bolts were manufactured in the U.S. and some of them span as much as 15 feet. Caltrans insists the new span is safe and to date, plans to open the bridge the day after Labor Day are still on track. So far, Caltrans is placiing blame for the failure on the products themselves — Caltrans engineers do not believe the bolt issue is due to construction or design of the bridge, but rather due to the chemical makeup of the bolts themselves, which appear to be brittle.