This 60 Minutes piece is the most comprehensive look at the new Bay Bridge I’ve seen: an in-depth examination of the safety, economic, and political issues and concerns that have led to the 24-year span between 1989 Loma Prieta and the planned 2013 opening of the new span. The helicopter footage of the new structure is spectacular, and some of the technical explanations are impressive – 6 feet of movement at each joint?! Shazam! Oh, and the detail about the base of the old span’s towers are made of douglas firs! WHAT?
Although I still think it is crazy absurd that it will have taken nearly a quarter-century to build the new eastern span, at least the design is aesthetically special and technologically advanced. Let’s hope they meet that deadline, and as the segment makes clear, that we don’t get hit by The Big One before the bridge is done.