SAN FRANCISCO — The troubled Transbay Transit Center has a new problem: a pathway through the rooftop park is degrading and needs replacement, even though the park has been off limits since the facility was closed last September.
KCBS Radio reports that divots had begun appearing in the pathway, made of decomposed granite, during the six weeks it was open before the transit center’s closure. The cost of replacement is likely to be more than $1 million.
Meanwhile, work continues on repairing the cracked support beams that led to the closure of the facility overseen by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, which opened as a bus terminal but is supposed to eventually be the San Francisco station for the state’s high speed rail system. [See “San Francisco’s transit center to remain closed until at least June,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 4, 2019.] Steel plates designed to shore up the damaged beams, as well as a similar beam that did not crack, arrived at the facility earlier this month, the San Jose Mercury News reports. Each of the plates will be attached with 224 high-strength bolts to reinforce the beams. Full repairs won’t be completed until June.
No date has been set for reopening the facility, however, as a full review of the construction process is continuing to assure there are no additional problems, and a review of the process of determining what caused the cracks is also continuing.
it is not a boondoggle, the cracks were cause by the steel fabricator violating the explicit directions of the steel shop drawings for their fabrication convenience–a violation of construction documents which is a violation of the contract. Please withhold the snark when you have no idea what you are talking about.
Every once in awhile, you read about some 3rd world country where some major construction collapses in pile of debris. Is this a great country, or WHAT?
I love the description of “divots”, if you read the article some of the potholes had grown to a foot in diameter, and that according to the contractor and engineers the TBJPA altered the composition and made other changes that were not recommended…this one is completely on the TBJPA.
This whole long boondoggle, is a poster child of “progress” we have made, in many areas.
Decomposed granite is basically fine gravel, not a solid material. I use it in my landscaping at home so it is not a difficult product to work with. I am not sure why this facility had so much difficulties with the walk ways
“divots had begun appearing in the pathway, made of decomposed granite”
I have granite counter tops in my kitchen. Granite is an almost impervious material. What can cause “DIVOTS” in the granite?
Cracks I might understand. Divots I do not. Are the pigeons picking holes in the surface?