What's Happening in San Francisco, CA…

In what is described as a “big win” for the agency, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has finally figured out how to solve a problem that has plagued the Bay Bridge in San Francisco since its eastern span was replaced in 2013 - leaks.

Water had been leaking into the span's supports even during construction, and the problem only got worse after the reopening of the bridge in September 2013. At that time, rainwater began to run beneath the road decks to the anchorages, where cable strands are tied. The water appeared to be coming in through hundreds of holes that had been drilled into the road deck to support a guardrail.

However, it was not clear how the water was getting to the holes in the first place. Engineers from Caltrans eventually decided the problem was caused by a change made during construction to eliminate the metal plates meant to keep out water.

The agency then spent $1.4m trying to seal the leaks, but without success until recently, when it found a solution that should cost less than $100,000.

Workers have applied industrial-grade caulk to the joint between the guard rails and the road deck, sealing the leaks. Thus far, the solution has worked, and the caulk costs about $40 per tube.

Caltrans engineers might consider working with a postcard printing company on a card for area residents, assuring them of the safety of the structure.