A lengthy delay mandated by the governor, a rebid and a fierce debate over the design of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge were just the beginning. Over the course of the 11-year construction period came allegations, faulty rods, foundation questions and even an FBI investigation on the $6.4-billion crossing, which was completed last year.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says Pat Lowry, president of Alta Vista, which received its fair share of public scrutiny as the provider of inspections and materials testing. "At the end of the day, when you drive across that bridge that you worked on, nobody will ever be able to take that away from you."