Salesforce Transit Center shut down due to crack in steel beam, nightmare commute on way

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco is temporarily closed after crews discovered a fissure in a steel beam on the third level of the center Tuesday, officials announced.

The Transbay Joint Powers Authority emptied the Salesforce Transit Center Tuesday evening after workers discovered a crack in a load-bearing beam.

RELATED: How to get around during Salesforce Transit Center's temporary closure in San Francisco

Commuters trying to catch the bus were floored to learn the new $2 billion transit center has a defect.

"The Millennium Tower, now this. I'm sure there has to be some issues going on with the construction people," said bus commuter Sid Goel.

"Well the beam is cracked so the behavior of the beam is unpredictable and that's why our engineers are cautious and they want us to close that area," said Executive Director of the TJPA, Mark Zabaneh.

RELATED: Commuters face gridlock after closure of Salesforce Transit Center in San Francisco

Zabaneh adds that the cracked beam is in the ceiling of the third level bus deck on the eastern side of the transit center near Fremont Street. The horizontal beam is beneath the rooftop park.

Zabaneh says the crack was discovered around 10 a.m. Tuesday morning while workers were installing ceiling panels.

"It's very disappointing for us responsible for building the transit center, and it's very disappointing that we have to inconvenience the public," he added.

"It's a major deal," said Michael Kreiger of SF Muni.

The crack affected areas far outside the transit center. These San Francisco Muni workers had to de-energize bus lines in the area, so contractors can safely work inside the building.

"They have traffic blocked all over the place and if that building is in trouble they need to fix it," said Kreiger.

AC Transit released a statement about the closure: The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) has been notified by The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) that a fissure has been discovered in a steel beam of the Salesforce Transit Center. The steel beam is located in the ceiling of the third level Bus Deck on the eastern side of the Salesforce Transit Center near Fremont Street. Out of an abundance of caution, the Salesforce Transit Center is now closed until further notice.

To ensure our riders safety and continuation of service, AC Transit has diverted all 27 Transbay bus lines to the old Temporary Terminal located at Howard and Beale Streets.

AC Transit Ambassadors - outfitted in fluorescent colored safety vest - have been deployed outside the Salesforce Transit Center and Temporary Transit Center providing riders direction and the most updated information.

AC Transit will closely monitor all information from the TJPA, and we remain committed to immediately updating our riders with the latest details.

Information is available at actransit.org or @rideACT.

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