likalar Posted May 21, 2013 Share #1 Posted May 21, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica M9...recent photo showing the removal of the temporary support structure underneath the 6.2 Billion Dollar structure. The cables are tight and functional, but a new glitch has the engineers and public worried: Several dozen large steel bolts broke apart when tightened to spec. They were tested, and found to be faulty, and weaker than specified. That, in turn, led to further testing. Now it is being reported that many more giant bolts and cables are also not built to spec, and weakness is the result. To top it off, red flags were waved years ago, but ignored. The public is angry, the buck is being passed, and so far, no heads have rolled. Thanks for taking a look. Expert: Replace at-risk Bay Bridge rods - SFGate Larry Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/205118-bay-bridge-in-progress/?do=findComment&comment=2326802'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 21, 2013 Posted May 21, 2013 Hi likalar, Take a look here Bay Bridge in Progress. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
tmldds Posted May 21, 2013 Share #2 Posted May 21, 2013 Leica M9...recent photo showing the removal of the temporary support structure underneath the 6.2 Billion Dollar structure. The cables are tight and functional, but a new glitch has the engineers and public worried: Several dozen large steel bolts broke apart when tightened to spec. They were tested, and found to be faulty, and weaker than specified. That, in turn, led to further testing. Now it is being reported that many more giant bolts and cables are also not built to spec, and weakness is the result. To top it off, red flags were waved years ago, but ignored. The public is angry, the buck is being passed, and so far, no heads have rolled. Thanks for taking a look.Expert: Replace at-risk Bay Bridge rods - SFGate Larry Sad... Should not have subcontracted a Chinese firm to save money when it comes to public safety. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Allsopp Posted May 21, 2013 Share #3 Posted May 21, 2013 Sad... Should not have subcontracted a Chinese firm to save money when it comes to public safety. I thought it was only us Brit's that were dumb enough to give our money and jobs to someone else to save a few short-sighted bucks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted May 21, 2013 Share #4 Posted May 21, 2013 A dear friend of mine was a railway engineer in the UK in a former life. One of his early mentors gave him a lesson one day - they were supervising the routine checking of an iron railway bridge. Among other things, the contractor was required to go over the entire structure and check (and tighten, as appropriate) every nut and bolt. The contractor came to the engineer and said "All done". The engineer looked at him and said "Are you sure?". The contractor said yes. The Engineer disappeared into the structure of the bridge with a spanner and came back half an hour or so later and said "you missed at least one". The contractor asked "which?", to which the engineer replied "it's up to you to find it". Compare that to a job I did a few years ago when a heat recovery steam generator arrived at the port - the client had justifiable doubts about the quality of the workmanship, so they sent an x-ray team down to the port to unpack the plant and to start testing welds. Each weld tested failed, and the supplier fixed each one as they were notified. When the client rejected the plant (as they were entitled to do), the contractor said it was unjustified as they had fixed all the faulty welds ... Go figure. At some stage, much like the Japanese in the 1950s and 1960s, the rest of the World will have to stop assuming that the Chinese are unreliable and that everything they make is crap ... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl G Posted May 21, 2013 Share #5 Posted May 21, 2013 Nice reportage and illustrative photo. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauledell Posted May 21, 2013 Share #6 Posted May 21, 2013 Larry, I'm glad I don't live near this bridge. But a great shot that deserves a Pulitzer Prize for Leica photo-journalism for the report. Paul 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
likalar Posted May 21, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted May 21, 2013 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for your comments, gents. Parts for this bridge are from several countries, but the broken bolt's supplier of record is a Painesville, Ohio, USA company named Dyson. I read at some point that Dyson never received an updated memo on the revised specs for galvanizing the steel bolts, and that the hardness of the bolts was compromised by the introduction of hydrogen. There are fixes being considered, but they will cost millions, of course. It seems many are as concerned with fixing reputations more than fixing the bridge. Note: This suspension cable design replaced an earlier, simpler design that would be a typical raised pier-mounted causeway built to higher earthquake safety standards than the old adjacent bolted steel bridge. The raised causeway idea was more affordable and very functional, but, according to art/architecture critics and certain government leaders, not very inspiring. Somehow the extra billions were found to build a showpiece bridge. It has been a troubled project for several years now, and the public is growing impatient. To many, It seems that the old unsafe bridge is merely being replaced with a new unsafe bridge after long delays and huge expense. I'll post occasional updates if the authorities allow me to continue photographing from my little boat. Last week I was shooed away by a CHP officer in a high speed boat who clearly wanted me to go away. The first time in 6 years I couldn't get very close; maybe he was concerned for my safety. Larry P.S. For the curious, yet another article about the project: http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/08/local/la-me-bay-bridge-bolts-20130509 Edited May 21, 2013 by likalar 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted May 22, 2013 Share #8 Posted May 22, 2013 Larry - Terrific photo and narrative. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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