Inspectors assess Bay Bridge's steel rods for safety after rust detected

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Inspectors are trying to assess how safe the new Bay Bridge is after salt water was found seeping in and rusted some of its 400 steel rods. So far, inspectors have looked at only a tiny fraction of them.

Crews have inspected the steel rods at 10 locations. The investigation will be extensive and will be paid for from bridge tolls.

As far as safety is concerned, the steel rods are considered seismic features that help protect the bridge in the event of an earthquake.

At issue, again is the integrity of the steel rod, also known as bolts, on the new Bay Bridge. This, after salt water was discovered at the foundation of the landmark tower.

"This is avoidable," said Randy Rentschler, of the Metropolitan Transit Commission. "Where that salt came from, we don't know. It could have come from when it was constructed. It could be other ways it got in there. One way could be bay water coming in there, we don't know yet."

During routine testing, a steel rod was found to have corroded and fractured, possibly due to water exposure. Further testing showed corrosive chloride in the sleeve that encases the 25 foot long rod. Crews are now systematically going through more than 400 of them to assess the severity of the situation.

The first time the steel rods broke, two years ago, it cost of $45 million to repair them.

"We are mindful of costs and we are very mindful of who should be responsible for this," Rentschler

Metropolitan Transportation Commission, one of three organizations on the bridge's oversight panel, says $4 million collected from Bay Area toll bridges will be used to investigate the problem. They're not sure how much more it will cost to fix it.

Toll payers have mixed feelings.

"At the end of the day, we are all paying for it one way or another. Now it seems like we are back tracking," said Cory Harris.

"Theres nothing to we can do about $4 million going forward. It's going to have to be spent to keep the bridge up in place," said Kyle Harris, a driver.

The MTC says even with this latest setback they are still within budget for unplanned expenses.