Even though the Bay Bridget was 20 years over due and $4 billion over budget, the California Department of Transportation, the state organization in charge of improving roads and highways said last week that they knew about the potential cracking in the recently built Bay Bridge, but weighed the cost of having to make repairs against the potential for delays and short-term and long-term safety concerns.

The San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “Critics said Caltrans’ actions undermined the span’s status as a lifeline after an earthquake – a road intended to be open for emergency vehicles and trucks within a day – and could shorten its predicted 150-year life span.

“‘What they’ve apparently done is rationalized the acceptance of excessive fatigue damage at these locations,” said Bob Bea, a professor emeritus of civil engineering at UC Berkeley. “For a lifeline bridge, this is a maintenance nightmare.‘”

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