WHAT:
Caltrans and its contractor, Manson & Dutra, will install the first of three
demonstration piles in San Francisco Bay for the new Bay Bridge east span. A large boat will be provided to escort Caltrans officials and media representatives to the platform where the first pile section will be lowered into the bay mud. (A fact sheet on the pile installation will be available)

WHEN:
Thursday, October 19 at 8:30 am

WHO:
Caltrans bridge engineers and designers

WHERE:
Weststar Berth 9, Burma Road, West Oakland (from I-80 take West Grand Exit, go right on Maritime Street then right on Burma Rd.)

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
Cruise along with Caltrans engineers and witness the first steel pile section (100 feet long, 8 feet diameter cylinder) driven into the bay mud at the east end of the bridge.

BACKGROUND:
A single-tower, self-anchored suspension bridge is planned to replace the existing east span of the Bay Bridge. This modern dsign was proposed in 1997 and will allow the bridge to withstand a major earthquake on either the Hayward or San Andreas faults. Cnstruction of the new east span is scheduled to begin next year with completion in 2005. It will cost $1.5 billion.