[concentric circles]

More details here:

Caltrans ignored shoddy work on Bay Bridge in China and U.S. - Sacramento Bee

The story relates that Jim Merrill, while managing quality control for steel work done by the Chinese firm, Zhenhua Port Machinery Co., warned Caltrans that parts had hundreds of cracks contrary to both the production contract and welding codes. He felt that Caltrans was more concerned with the work schedule than with safety. Shortly afterward the inspection firm was fired and replaced by another company which was unable to perform the necessary testing until they hired employees away from the rejected firm.

Douglas Coe was transfered from supervising the Chinese work to another project in California after discovering cracks in the welds on components of the bridge suspension tower. He ordered the construction firm to do more testing and was told by Caltrans manager Tony Anziano to back off.

[Cyber Liberty]

I hate to say it, but that has to be the butt-ugliest bridge I’ve ever seen.

[NVDave]

Yet another “own goal” by the advocates of “free trade.” The PRC company won the big, no doubt by bidding below cost.

For the PRC and PLA, it was a cheap way to gain important knowledge about US infrastructure and internal bidding practices for infrastructure projects.

And of course the Chinese steel and welds are crap. Any one who has welded on, or machined, Chinese steel knows that it’s crap steel. Always has been.