A new report suggests that cracks and corrosion on the steel rods that support the Bay Bridge may be making the bridge susceptible to catastrophic failure. Some experts say that poor oversight, sloppy craftsmanship and lack of quality control have led to a structure that could be unstable in an earthquake. Jaxon van Derbeken, San Francisco Chronicle:
“An engineer who studied tiny cracks found in flooded rods at the base of the bridge’s tower — a problem Caltrans has downplayed — discovered similar cracks in rods elsewhere on the $6.4 billion span. That cracking, experts say, could make the rods far more vulnerable to failure than the agency has acknowledged.
“Separately, Caltrans now concedes that it did not inspect the new bridge’s 2,000-plus rods when they were delivered to ensure their threads met industry specifications, and has since discovered that some if not all of them fall short. It’s a problem that experts warn could weaken the rods down the line, and may have damaged some already.”
And speaking of massive infrastructure projects, as work proceeds on California’s high speed rail project, some experts are skeptical that the bullet train can meet the schedule and cost estimates. Of particular concern are 36 miles of tunnels through the mountains north of Los Angeles, a region rife with earthquake faults and even a techtonic boundary. Ralph Vartabedian Los Angeles Times:
“It will be the most ambitious tunneling project in the nation's history.
“State officials say the tunnels will be finished by 2022 — along with 300 miles of track, dozens of bridges or viaducts, high-voltage electrical systems, a maintenance plant and as many as six stations. Doing so will meet a commitment to begin carrying passengers between Burbank and Merced in the first phase of the $68-billion high-speed rail link between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
“However, a Times analysis of project documents, as well as interviews with scientists, engineers and construction experts, indicates that the deadline and budget targets will almost certainly be missed — and that the state has underestimated the challenges ahead, particularly completing the tunneling on time.
"’It doesn't strike me as realistic,’ said James Monsees, one of the world's top tunneling experts and an author of the federal manual on highway tunneling. ‘Faults are notorious for causing trouble.’"
Laurel Rosenhall looks at the Speaker-to-be Anthony Rendon (D-Lynwood), who is preparing to take the reins in the California Assembly – the first Speaker sworn in under new term limits that mean he has the opportunity to become the longest-serving Speaker since term limits were passed. From CALmatters:
“[The] stage is set for Rendon to become a leader unlike any California has seen in 20 years. Changes to legislative term limits approved by voters three years ago have now taken hold, creating the potential for a period of stability unseen since Willie Brown — the self-proclaimed “ayatollah of the Assembly” — left the speaker’s office in 1995.
“In the 20 years before that, California had just two Assembly speakers. In the 20 years since, there have been 11.”
The Orange County Register looked at political spending by entities operating in OC and found that utility companies – firms that have big decisions before the California Public Utilities Commission - topped the list. Teri Sforza writes:
“The top political contributor was Pacific Gas & Electric, followed by San Diego Gas & Electric and Edison International, the parent of Southern California Edison. Together, the state’s three major utilities spent $105.3 million on political contributions, general lobbying and PUC lobbying over the years examined.”
California’s entire history revolves around cries of “There’s gold in them thar hills,” but “There’s gold in them thar sewers” just doesn’t have the same ring. From Veronica Rocha at the Los Angeles Times:
“It started as rumor: A couple of people ventured into the storm drains below the streets of Auburn, Calif., and struck gold.
“Now town and police officials have a problem on their hands: Gold fever in the sewers.
“Police have found several people in the drains digging for treasure. None of them were arrested -- and not one person has hit the jackpot, Auburn Police Chief John Ruffcorn said.
“But the would-be miners are causing a ruckus for the businesses above, where people can hear loud banging sounds from the storm drains, which can run a quarter-mile to 100 yards long.
“People are also worried that the digging could destabilize the drainage system and cause the streets above to buckle, and maybe even collapse.
“’It’s extremely dangerous,’ Ruffcorn said, adding that it is ‘illegal.’”
Also: if you can’t seem to recall seeing a Roundup in your inbox on Friday … well, you didn’t. Ye olde editors crossed wires and never served the goods. It’ll never happen again – at least this week.
