Bay Bridge Finally Opens

A little history:

When the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge opens September 3, it will have been nearly 24 years since the Loma Prieta earthquake set in motion plans for a replacement span, and 11 years since construction began.
The bridge shutdown for the final phase of construction starts August 28 and should reopen in time for the morning commute September 3.
As we're about to enter a new era in bridge history it's a good time to look back and remember just how it is how we got here. After all, there was a time when there was no bridge across this stretch of bay...
Then Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar wanted to go cheap and build a bridge similar to the San Mateo -- basically a long ramp. The proposal brought storm of protest.
Finally a deal for a more expensive design, paid for by tolls, state and federal funds.
With its cost projected at $2.6 billion, in the end the new span would cost over $3.5 billion more than that. It would be the biggest public works project in the state's history.
Construction began in 2002.
"This will be the strongest bridge in America bar none, and arguably the strongest bridge in the world," said then Governor Gray Davis on January 29, 2002.
Over the years, as with any project of this size, there would be problems.
In 2005 bad welds made headlines and prompted investigations.
More recently, galvanized seismic safety bolts cracked when tightened. Their failure threatened the bridge's opening as critics asked why they were installed in the first place.
A saddle retrofit was chosen and temporary shims are in place to make the bridge safer while the saddles go in.
Now the Bay Area's newest landmark, the new eastern span and its iconic white tower with a 6.2 billion dollar price tag, is opening.

An amazing project, but a pretty terrible project cost estimate.  And CalTrans got a few black eyes along the way.  But, it is in place, finally.