2003 edition of Carquinez Bridge has steel issues like New East Bay Bridge does

[bing101]

http://abc7news.com/traffic/carquinez-may-hold-clues-to-more-bay-bridge-troubles/92995/

Its not just a Bay Bridge issue anymore. Even the 2003 Al Zampa Bridge aka West Carquinez has steel issues too but thats been open for 11 years.

[bing101]

http://www.kcra.com/news/carquinez-bridge-joint-near-vallejo-showing-premature-wear/26342356#!UXLk3

The $240 million steel suspension span over the Carquinez Strait near Vallejo was completed in 2003. Cracking on the joint started showing up two years ago, and a recent inspection found widespread problems in one spot.
The joint system expands and contracts as temperatures change and is intended to keep the bridge together during an earthquake. It was supposed to last at least two decades.

Woah! Caltrans is going to have to deal with a GM sized scandal here. One Bay Bridge steel issues, 2 Beltline Fwy with Concrete cracks, and 3 Al Zampa's steel issues.

[ZLoth]

From SF Gate:

Premature cracks found on Carquinez Bridge

A seismic expansion joint on the westbound Carquinez Bridge - similar to a dozen used on the skyway portion of the new Bay Bridge eastern span - has cracked after less than 10 years of pounding by heavy trucks, Caltrans officials said Wednesday.

The cracking on the joint of the $240 million steel suspension span - which was finished in 2003 and crosses the Carquinez Strait near Vallejo - started showing up two years ago, Caltrans officials said.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

[bing101]

Why did it take 11 years to find out that Carquinez Bridge was as bad as the Bay Bridge. Who is doing quality control here.

[roadfro]

^ Well, they said the cracking only started showing up two years ago...

Sometimes, these things can't be reliably predicted. If there's a material flaw (such as the steel being too brittle), that is rarely evident by simply looking at the item--that would need metallurgical testing or something similar, which may not be feasible on new components due to destructive nature of some tests.

[hm insulators]

Here we go again!