Home California Senator DeSaulnier Statement on Labor Day Opening of New Bay Bridge

Senator DeSaulnier Statement on Labor Day Opening of New Bay Bridge

by ECT

Mark DeSaulnier

Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) released the following statement on the decision by the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee to open the Bay Bridge over the Labor Day weekend.

“We have known since the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, that the eastern span of the Bay Bridge is not seismically safe,” Senator Mark DeSaulnier said. “I support moving commuters off the old span, and onto the new one as soon as it is safe to do so. The recent review by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) confirms that sooner is better than later for the safety of commuters who rely upon the Bay Bridge every day.”

“The new eastern span of the Bay Bridge is 10 years late, and $5 billion over budget. The commuters are the ones who have paid for this project as it has skyrocketed over budget, and they have been left vulnerable each day spent on the old span. They deserve the safest bridge possible.”

“Even after the bridge has opened, the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee will continue to examine the many pitfalls that have plagued this project. After the countless headaches this project has caused, we need to identify what went wrong and how we can prevent similar frustrations on future mega-projects. There needs to be accountability and meaningful reform at Caltrans.”

SB 110, authored by Senator DeSaulnier, establishes a panel of outside experts—convened by the Legislative Analyst’s Office—to review the issues surrounding the new eastern span. The bill was passed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. It now heads to the Assembly floor. The panel of experts will issue a report this fall.

Website of Senator Mark DeSaulnier: http://www.sd07.senate.ca.gov/

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2 comments

Chinese Bridge Aug 16, 2013 - 7:00 pm

If you look up failure in the dictionary……

ECVsBrother Aug 17, 2013 - 5:09 pm

What heads rolled on the failed bridge. Thought so, no one lost their job. Desaulnier is just like Obama FOS.

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