A steel rod on the Bay Bridge failed a Caltrans test Wednesday, prompting concerns that similar rods might also be damaged by water.
According to The Chronicle, the rod, previously fastened to the tower of the eastern span, failed a mechanical pull test, moving when it was supposed to remain in place. The tower is supported by hundreds of similar rods that could also be vulnerable to damage from years of sitting in saltwater, which could spell trouble for the structure during a major earthquake.
Rods, bolts and fasteners on the eastern span have been cause for concern since it opened two years ago. 32 fasteners snapped in 2013, which called into question another 64 made in the same batch. A December 2014 report found all bolts, rods and fasteners to be "secure."
