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Expert Says More Than 600 Bay Bridge Rods Too Hard, Vulnerable To Cracking

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- An expert says that more than 600 high-strength rods and bolts used to secure seismic equipment on the new span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge are harder than the typical levels and are vulnerable to cracking.

Newly released test results show that those rods and bolts are above the at-risk hardness threshold of 34 set by bridge specialist John Fisher, a member of Caltrans' team of independent experts.

Fisher says the results from corrosion-simulation tests on those rods could determine whether they may need replacing.

The hardness question arose after the 32 seismic safety rods broke after being tightened in March.

The bridge's $6.4 billion eastern portion span scheduled to open Labor Day weekend is in doubt as officials say they will make a decision next month.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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