Bay Bridge Opening Delayed: What Do You Think?

So, in the scheme of things, what's three or four months?

When it comes to the Bay Bridge, some people think quite a bit.

Officials overseeing the construction of the new eastern span of the bridge announced Monday the new section won't open during the Labor Day weekend as scheduled.

They said it'll be at least mid-December before the new $6.3 billion span is handling traffic.

The latest delay means not only a few more months of construction and testing, it also means the grand opening party may be held in cold or rainy weather as opposed to the guaranteed sunshine of early September.

What do you think of the delay? What are thoughts on the project as a whole?

State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) didn't mince words on Monday.

The senator pointed out the new span was supposed to open in 2003 and cost $1.1 billion. It's now 10 years late and is costing almost six times more than expected.

"We have known since the Loma Prieta Earthquake that the old span of the Bay Bridge is not safe. Nearly 24 years later and we are still in a race against time to get commuters off the old bridge before the next major earthquake hits," said DeSaulnier.

“The need to delay the opening in order to fully repair busted bolts is just the latest frustration associated with this project," he added. "The commuters are the ones who have paid for this project as it has skyrocketed over budget and they are the ones left vulnerable each day that they must cross the old span. Those responsible for these delays must be held accountable.”