California State Senator Mark DeSaulnier issued a statement yesterday urging accountability for the new Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge that is now delayed and will not open on Labor Day Weekend. He says the bridge is now 10 years late, costs $6.3 billion, and has been plagued with questions regarding seismic safety.
Here is a copy of his press release:
Senator DeSaulnier Statement on Bay Bridge Delay
Today the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee (TBPOC) announced that the new Eastern Span of the Bay Bridge will not be open on Labor Day Weekend, as had been previously scheduled.
“In 1998, as a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), I voted for a state-of-the-art seismically safe bridge design that was supposed to cost $1.1 billion, and open in 2003. The bridge is now 10 years late, costs $6.3 billion, and has been plagued with questions regarding seismic safety. We have known since the Loma Prieta Earthquake that the old span of the Bay Bridge is not safe. Nearly 24 years later and we are still in a race against time to get commuters off the old bridge before the next major earthquake hits.”
“The need to delay the opening in order to fully repair busted bolts is just the latest frustration associated with this project. The commuters are the ones who have paid for this project as it has skyrocketed over budget, and they are the ones left vulnerable each day that they must cross the old span. Those responsible for these delays must be held accountable.”
Website of Senator Mark DeSaulnier: http://www.sd07.senate.ca.gov/
2 comments
Mark says heads will roll for this. Obama said he would cut off aid to Egypt if it was overthrown. Politicians will only gain respect when they show respect for the public. That day will never come as long as people keep electing b sers who do not do what they say after they promise. Mark lets see who’s heads will roll so I can be proved wrong. I’m not holding my breath.
The builder and the public servants knew that the $1.8 billion bid was a low ball bid. They knew that the public outcry would kill the project if the true cost was admitted.This is not a new selling ploy. It is used on taxpayer all of the time. The bullit train is suppose to cost $63 billion. Five times that is $315 billion. Who will use that number in bullet train cost projections?
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