Engineering Ethics

1989: San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge Earthquake Collapse 95

The 1998-approved design consists of an Oakland short low-rise span to

the bridge, a 1.5-mile roadway, the world’s first single-tower self-anchored

suspension span, and a box-girder roadway connecting to Yerba Buena

Island. During an earthquake, the roadway is designed to sway and slide,

and the tower is designed to allow for movement (CAFJ, 2005). However,

according to an Army Corps of Engineers study completed in 2000, the

performance of this bridge design during an 8.1 to 8.2 magnitude earth-

quake as close as 3.2 miles away cannot be guaranteed because the design

is not based on meeting this strict seismic safety requirement. Further, this

design does not meet the lifeline criteria (USACOE, 2000).

Originally scheduled to open in December 2006, 2010 of the bridge’s

11,525 feet had yet to be built as of March 2005. Total cost estimates

have ballooned from $1.3 billion to more than $5 billion. Governor

Schwarzenegger called for a simpler design eliminating the tower in the

remaining 2010 feet to reduce costs (Chea, 2005). However, Bay Area

legislators believe Schwarzenegger’s idea would cost more and result in

further delays because it requires design and environmental approvals.

Additionally, the California legislature is divided regarding whether

only Bay Area commuters, through tolls, or all Californians should

pay for cost overruns of $2.9 billion, based on the original estimated cost

by Caltrans in 2001. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation

is checking allegations that the foundation of the concrete span built

so far is riddled with shoddy welds. As of May 2005, work continues

on the part of the bridge reaching Oakland but remains stalled on

the last feet to Yerba Buena Island. Expected completion for the new

bridge is now around 2011, 22 years after the Loma Prieta earthquake

(Schmidt, 2005).

APPLICABLE REGULATIONS

According to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Ch. 1,

§21000, of the California Code of Regulations:

§21000. Legislative intent

The Legislature finds and declares as follows:

(a) The maintenance of a quality environment for the people of

this state now and in the future is a matter of statewide concern.

(b) It is necessary to provide a high-quality environment that at

all times is healthful and pleasing to the senses and intellect

of man.

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