http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091028/ap_on_re_us/us_bay_bridge_closureTough commute likely after Bay Bridge rod snaps
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge has been closed indefinitely after a rod installed during last month's emergency repairs snapped, causing a traffic nightmare for the 280,000 motorists who cross the landmark span every day.
Engineers on Wednesday will evaluate the damage caused when the rod and metal brace fell into the 73-year-old bridge's westbound lanes during Tuesday evening's rush hour.
At least two vehicles — a car and a small truck — either were struck by or ran into the fallen rod, said California Highway Patrol Officer Peter Van Eckhardt. No injuries were reported.
The California Department of Transportation said Tuesday that it will remain closed indefinitely.
A spokesman for the Bay Area Rapid Transit District, meanwhile, said extra trains would run during the morning commute.
The rod that fell Tuesday was erected last month during an emergency repair job. It was holding in place a saddle-like cap that had been installed over a cracked link discovered over the Labor Day weekend.
-snip-
"If you look at the totality of the circumstances — you've got the 5:30 commute, you have a 5,000-pound piece of steel falling out of the sky. We are so fortunate that no one was injured or killed," CHP Sgt. Trent Cross told KTVU-TV.
-snip-
------------------------------
and so it goes in america