10/7/2015
HEADLINES
The state agency in charge of the Oakland Bay Bridge is ending its relationship with the structure’s main contractor and plans to seek damages “because of project delays and shoddy workmanship that plagued the $6.4 billion project,” KQED News reports.
American Bridge-Fluor oversaw the work, including installation of massive bolts reportedly manufactured by Ohio-based Dyson Corporation.
Caltrans discovered significant bolt issues in March 2013 when 32 rods anchoring the roadway to earthquake safety structures cracked soon after being tightened. Hydrogen embrittlement was determined to be the cause of the failure.
Bridge officials found subsequent problems with other bolts and rods on the bridge.
“This is a bittersweet day,” Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee Chair Steve Heminger stated. “We are acknowledging folks made mistakes and folks need to pay for those mistakes.”
Caltrans is seeking an $8 million credit from American Bridge-Fluor, and filing an $8 million claim against joint-venture design firm T.Y. Lin International and Moffat & Nichol, according to KQED News.
“That’s two thirds of a $24 million failure of anchoring rods on the bridge’s east pier,” KQED News reports. “A committee investigation in 2013 found Caltrans was responsible for one-third of the failure.”
The agency is also withholding $4.5 million for construction delays and “repairs of incorrectly installed anchor rod grout that appears to have allowed water to contact the bridge fasteners,” potentially leading to corrosion.
Share: