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Bay Bridge Contractor Could Face Fines Of $25,000 A Day For Unfinished Work

OAKLAND (CBS SF) – Caltrans is threatening to fine the main contractor involved with construction on the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge as long as the work remains unfinished.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Caltrans is threatening to fine American Bridge/Fluor, the project's main contractor, up to $25,000 a day as long as the $6.4 billion project remains unfinished.

Several problems have developed since the bridge opened in September 2013 that have yet to be fixed, including rust spots in the span's paint and dozens of sleeves for steel anchor rods at the tower's foundation that need to be filled with grout or grease after botched construction resulted in the holes flooding with rainwater.

Earlier this year, Caltrans took some of the blame for the issues, and agreed to pay $3 million to American Bridge/Fluor to finish work by the end of 2014. The contractor has not responded to requests for comment.

Andrew Fremier, deputy director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, tells the Chronicle the main outstanding issue is work on the flooded anchor rods.

Caltrans Chief Deputy District Director Dan McElhinney, who will be the agency's lead official on the project starting January 1, said the contract provision for daily fines is standard procedure.

Fremier said he expects there to be a dispute over both the fines and who is responsible for time overruns for the project, which could lead to a court battle between the two sides.

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