"The beam basically supports the roof, the bus deck and Fremont Street. It's holding up the bridge over Fremont Street," said Mark Zabaneh, Executive Director of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority.
That's why the Transbay Joint Powers Authority decided to close both Fremont street and the Salesforce Transit Center.
Correction this is the cracked beam here pic.twitter.com/c8fYWMkN79
— Melanie Woodrow (@MelanieWoodrow) September 26, 2018
We will not open the transit center or Fremont Street unless we are 100 percent sure that the issue is rectified, corrected and the building is safe," said Zabaneh.
VIDEO: Officials address cracks found in steel beams at SF Salesforce Transit Center
During their investigation last night, workers found another crack.
"The adjacent beam to the beam in question also suffered some cracking, not to the same extent as the beam in question but still has some cracking," said Zabaneh.
RELATED: How to get around during Salesforce Transit Center's temporary closure in San Francisco
TJPA says the beams were installed and last inspected in January of 2016.
There was no crack in June of 2016 when fire proofing material was installed.
Crack is approximately 2 feet 6 inches pic.twitter.com/3IMkWkokH4
— Melanie Woodrow (@MelanieWoodrow) September 26, 2018
"The cracks took place after June of 2016 we don't know when after June of 2016," said Zabaneh.
Meaning it's possible the cracks occurred before they were discovered yesterday.
RELATED: Commuters face gridlock nightmare after sudden closure of Salesforce Transit Center in SF
The transit center has been open to the public since August 12.
TJPA says there are similar beams on 1st Street.
"We inspected it visually and see no signs of any deformation or stress," said Zabaneh.
TJPA says the cracks could be a fabrication, welding, installation or design issue.
The next step is to put in temporary shoring to relieve the load on those two cracked beams.
A timeline you’ll want to know if you’ve been in the now closed Transit Center any time since opening - beam last inspected Jan 2016. No crack in June ‘16 when fireproofing material applied. Crack could have developed any time since June ‘16 & before it was discovered yesterday pic.twitter.com/0NW3B3j0na
— Melanie Woodrow (@MelanieWoodrow) September 26, 2018
.@LondonBreed statement on Transit Center cracked beam pic.twitter.com/oaSyB6yX1z
— Melanie Woodrow (@MelanieWoodrow) September 26, 2018
Dept of Building Inspection statement on Salesforce Transit Center cracked beam pic.twitter.com/cgt49KKiiw
— Melanie Woodrow (@MelanieWoodrow) September 26, 2018
Commuters are back at the temporary transbay terminal today in San Francisco now that the new one has been shut down. Everyone seems to be rolling with it. pic.twitter.com/KVPF1zLeEX
— Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) September 26, 2018
I just talked to someone in traffic on Fremont who just got off the Bay Bridge. He says traffic wasn’t terrible- that it is always congested through here. So maybe people are making alternate plans? Or - they haven’t left yet. 😱 pic.twitter.com/k4SJtTV9AL
— Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) September 26, 2018
Heads up commuters! The Salesforce Transit Center is closed indefinitely because of a cracked beam. Use the temporary transit center. Cars should avoid area- Fremont at Howard is closed- area is clogged. pic.twitter.com/ZbNFUZeOLr
— Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) September 26, 2018
This is what greets commuters coming off the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. This is Fremont at Howard. The area is closed because of an unpredictable cracked beam in the new Transit Center. pic.twitter.com/XZIEnCaEiy
— Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) September 26, 2018
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