New Bay Bridge....Still Falling Apart.

Several times I have told you about the disaster that is the New $6,400,000,000.00 Bay Bridge in California.

http://www.sfgate.com/…/Bay-Bridge-news-gets-worse-Tower-ro…

I told you about it in May of 2013.

http://exposing-the-man.blogspot.com/…/new-bay-bridgea-disa…

I told you about it again in November 2013.

http://exposing-the-man.blogspot.com/…/the-new-bay-bridge-o…

To refresh your memory……. lots of the work was outsourced to Communist Red China. That work was all done wrong. The steel that reinforces the bridge was also bought from Communist Red China….. and it is all very poor quality.

The bridge was supposed to last many decades. It hasn’t even lasted 2 years and it is already falling apart. They are trying to blame it on salt water. It is not salt water. It is outsourced work from China. The same quality they always provide.

There are many 24 foot steel rods that strengthen the bridge in the event of an earthquake. They just tested one of the rods to check its integrity. If the test passed the rod would not move. If the test failed it would move. Guess which one happened?

Now they are going into full panic mode.

One of the steel rods anchoring the tower of the new Bay Bridge eastern span has failed a key integrity test, suggesting it became corroded and broke during years when it was soaking in water (Or was made by China)

The test result raises the possibility that hundreds of other rods that have been steeped in water in the bridge’s foundation in recent years are in danger of cracking, which could reduce the stability of the 525-foot-tall tower in a major earthquake. (It is a good thing they don’t have earthquakes in California)

State officials remained optimistic (Delusional) Thursday that corrosion was not to blame (It was), and stressed that Caltrans isn’t certain of the rod’s condition because workers have not removed the 25-foot-long fastener from its sleeve.

Gareth Lacy, a spokesman for the state Transportation Agency, confirmed that the rod had failed what is called a mechanical pull test, in which crews tug on the fastener to see if it moves. If everything is right with the rod, it should stay in place. This rod moved during Wednesday’s test (Of course it did. But look on the bright side….Lots of money was saved by outsourcing to China.), Lacy said.

“We don't believe it’s corrosion — this bridge is not old enough for corrosion, not with these rods or under this level of loading,” he said. (HAHAHAHAHA)

He added that nearly all the remaining rods will now be pull tested to determine their integrity. (I can already tell you the answer)
“The bridge is safe,” (No it is not) McElhinney said.

Nearly all of the tower’s 424 high-strength rods — intended to provide added seismic protection for the landmark structure — stewed in water for a prolonged period, exposing them to possible corrosion. A botched grouting and sealing job left hundreds of rod sleeves flooded, and recently Caltrans discovered signs indicating that salt water may be leaching into the foundation from the bay. (YAY Outsourcing!!!)

Although state officials hold out hope for an alternative explanation for the rod’s test failure, one outside expert said there was little doubt what happened. (He meant NO doubt)

“The thing clearly cracked,” said Lisa Fulton, a corrosion expert in Berkeley who has studied the problems on the span. “It means there’s little doubt that others are cracked — they just don’t know it. (I know it) What are the odds this is the only one?”

Suspicions had centered on the rod after ultrasonic tests showed that it was 6 inches shorter than the others, a possible sign that it had broken at its base.

When workers for the bridge contractor pulled on the three rods, the shorter one gave way while the other two held fast, Lacy said.
Some bridge officials speculated that the rod was simply constructed shorter than other fasteners, for reasons unknown.

Bridge officials say they won’t know for sure what happened until the entire rod is removed. The rod has to be cut apart in 2-foot sections as it is pulled up, because there is not enough room at the base of the tower to remove an intact rod. (So if you have to cut it to get it out because there is not enough room how do you then get a new rod inserted?)

“You have a situation where the long-term viability of this system is in question,” Kane said. “You have everything working against you at this point, and all the safety factors have been removed.”

Kane added, “After seeing everything else that has happened, it seems like more of the same. It shows kind of a wanton disregard for good engineering design and practice.”