Bay Bridge Reopens But Engineers Plan Daily Checks

SUDHIN THANAWALA

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge reopened Monday, but transportation engineers said their work may not be finished.

The heavily used span was closed Oct. 27 after two rods and a metal crossbar came crashing down on the roadway during evening rush hour.

Engineers worked through the weekend to finish repairs and now plan daily safety inspections. They warned the bridge may have to be closed again to complete a more permanent fix.

"We've taken care of what we believe are the big issues that led to this failure," said Rick Land, chief engineer for the state department of transportation.

Still, officials will be looking for a "better, long-term strategy" that won't require daily monitoring, he said.

Eager drivers lined up at the toll plaza shortly before the bridge reopened. The first vehicles allowed on the upper deck were led by a line of California Highway Patrol cars.

Land and other transportation officials said the repairs were designed to withstand the high winds that caused a previous fix to fail. New parts have been reinforced to control vibrations and prevent friction, he said.