Bad Bolts

A second batch of 192 bolts on the new Bay Bridge eastern span has been tightened into place — and unlike the last group, so far they’re holding.

Eastern section of new Bay Bridge, next to the old span, contains fractured anchor rods.

Caltrans officials say it’s too early to declare the bolts sound. But it’s been as many as 10 days for some, and there are no cracks or other signs of stress, said agency spokesman Will Shuck.

Caltrans suffered a major embarrassment a couple of weeks back when workers discovered that about a third of 96 bolts installed on a seismic-safety structure on the $6.4 billion eastern span had snapped within days of being tightened.

Caltrans officials believe the faulty bolts — which range in length from 9 to 17 feet, and have a 2½-inch diameter — turned brittle in the process used to galvanize them. Fixing the bolt problem is not likely to delay span’s scheduled Labor Day weekend opening, Caltrans says. It has put a preliminary estimate on fixing the problem at about $1 million.

The latest bolts to be tightened came from the same Ohio outfit, Dyson Corp., that made the bolts that failed. The new batch, however, was manufactured two years later.
Officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission still want to know what went wrong with the bad bolts — and will be getting a briefing from Caltrans on Wednesday.