Some Tacoma Narrows Bridge Cable Wires Are Corroded
About 20% of the 4,800 coils of cable meant for the new Tacoma Narrows Bridges 2,800-ft-long suspension span are unusable and will have to be replaced. Linea Laird, project manager for the Washington Dept. of Transportation, says it is too early to determine costs and delays associated with the wire problem.
Inspectors for the $850-million, 5,400-ft-long Gig Harbor crossing are still performing tests and inspections on almost 1,000 wire coils that show some oxidation to ascertain if they are usable, says Laird. Another 1,400 coils showed no oxidation. Some 1,200 wires have already been spun. "Were confident that the wire already installed is corrosion-free," says Claudia Cornish, project spokeswoman.