Transbay Transit Center – Response to Fractured Girders over Roadway

Authors

John Abruzzo, Managing Principal, Thornton Tomasetti 

Blake Berger, Senior Associate, Thornton Tomasetti

Publication

This article was featured in ASCE Forensic Engineering 2024.

Abstract

By happenstance, a fracture was discovered in the bottom flange on a girder by a construction worker installing ceiling panels in 2018 at the Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco. The astute worker at once alerted the contractor which started a chain of events beginning with the inspection of the girders and ending in repair 6 months later. There are structural and forensics lessons to be learned in responding to such events, actions to be taken, decisions to be made, and problems to solve, all requiring teamwork and a “just do it” attitude. The story is presented, and lessons for future response noted.