Made in China: Key Parts of New Calif. Bridge Won’t be Made in America
- Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:26am by
Liz Klimas
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A new Bay Bridge will connect San Francisco and Oakland, Calif., by 2013. The bridge, which officials are calling ‘the world’s largest self-anchored suspension bridge,’ will cost $7.2 billion when complete, but state decided not to apply for federal funding when the project began in 2006. Why?
According to a New York Times report in June, it was in part so they wouldn’t have to buy more expensive American steel:
. . .because the “Buy America” provisos would probably have required purchasing more expensive steel and fabrication from United States manufacturers.
Construction of the new Bay Bridge in 2007. (Photo: Vasilken)
So, who‘s building this bridge and with who’s material? American workers will provide much of the elbow grease, but the materials are made in China. NPR has more:
This assembly will be performed early next year by American labor. But the massive cable, key sections of the iconic tower and deck were all made in China, which is emerging as an infrastructure powerhouse in more places than San Francisco.
. . .
The decision to outsource the fabrication of key sections of the Bay Bridge was made about five years ago when a contractor offered alternate bids on the project, says Tony Anziano, a manager at the California Transportation Department.
“One proposing to do work domestically, one proposing to do the work internationally: There was a $400 million differential in that bid and in that case it would have required the work to go international,” [Tony Anziano, a program manager at the California Department of Transportation,] said.
California avoided legal requirements to use domestic steel by not using federal funds for the job.
The steel contract went to a state-owned Chinese company, Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, which had several advantages: modern production facilities, ships to deliver the steel and, of course, low-cost labor. A Chinese steel polisher makes about $12 a day.
American workers weren‘t happy at the time and still aren’t. NPR reports the union’s perspective on the outsourcing:
Bob LaVenture, a district director for the United Steel Workers Union, has opposed outsourcing this job.
“There is no way that American workers will be able to ever compete with $12 a day,” he said. “It‘s just not right and it’s not right for America.”
But NPR went on to report Anziano as saying it wasn’t just a money thing. It was capacity:
“In this particular case, we had full-time staff on site over in China — 24/7 — that monitored all aspects of fabrication work and performed their own quality-assurance testing,” he said. “So we have a very high level of assurance about what we are getting.”
The onus for the new Bay Bridge is to completely replace the current bridge that suffered damage during the 1989 earthquake. Seismic safety testing of the current bridge, according to the Times, showed officials that the bridge needed to rebuilt and equipped with more earthquake-resistant technology.
Collapsed portion of the Bay Bridge in 1989. (Photo: USGS)
The Times calls to mind other times China has been called upon for larger projects on American soil: New York subway system renovation, renovation of the Alexander Hamilton Bridge and new Metro-North train platform near Yankee Stadium.
The new bridge is expected to open in 2013.
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Comments (128)
mohavegreen
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:31pmNothing should come as a suprise in Commrade Pelosi ville.
Report Post »knockered
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:08pmIsn’t that the state that has all those leaders that say they are for the people. How fitting they should all fall into the sea…
Report Post »knockered
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:11pmMaybe it’ll rot and make people sick just like the chinese wallboard did. Keep buying from those ****** and see where it’ll get ya.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:47pmShovel Ready Obama Jobs. Made in China. 15 NEW solar tech business’s are being TAXPAYER funded, and another 100 jobs will be created , AND LOST, by next year. Solar Powered Theft of TAXPAYERS cash by Barry and the DEMOCRATS
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 3:52pmIf you are a reader, consider some of the works by Niall Ferguson. Here’s a portion of one of his talks on what he calls “Chi-merica” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DeQYWro8YU
I’m disappointed in CA State government for many reasons – this is just another one, but one that strikes at an emotional chord in the hearts of Americans who want to see the “national good” made a priority over and above pure “profit” stripped of any morals or ideals.
Report Post »OhForGodsSake
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 3:59pmClearly, you are not paying attention. They DIDN’T take federal money, which is WHY they are using Chinese products. If they did take the federal money, they would have had to buy American. I guess you would rather call liberals communists than look at the real problem.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 4:32pm@ OhForGodsSake:
Please don’t trivialize by oversimplification. Don’t you see how our own Federal Government is pitting business against national interests?
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 4:44pmOhforgodssake:
If they were to have taken federal money, it would have ‘stimulated’ the economy and put more Americans to work. Unfortunately, the pee party doesn’t want to see that happen. They like Communism. Why else would they force the rest of us into a corner to where we had to use a Communist government to help get something done for us?
Report Post »Cat
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 6:00pmSmelling ‘Titanic’ all over this project.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 6:49pmThis nation has been using cheap Chinese labor almost since it’s inception. This is nothing new. The continental railroad was built with an immigrant Chinese labor force. If the unions want to compete for manufacturing jobs they should push for the FairTax bill and be willing to take a small cut in pay. They say they cannot compete with $12 a day labor rates, but they don’t add in the shipping and every other ancillary cost such as flying engineers from the Chinese firm to the US and back when called. There is alot more the unions could do to close that gap than they are willing to do. They just don‘t want to work because working isn’t their dream. Conversely, having a steady job is a dream they have in China apparently (or they’re forced to have).
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 3:35amWe have lost our minds. The unions, lawyers,enviromentalists ,
Report Post »and govt. regulations have pushed our jobs overseas
All democrap liberal groups, all of them……but they re for
the working people ? NOT
starman70
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:02amThe state that produced the likes of Nancy (The Birdbrain of Alcatraz), Henry Waxman and the Hollywild limousine liberals, should slide away from America (By tectonic plate movement) and attach itself to the Chinese coast.
Steelworkers of America (Union and non-union) – - – unite! BOYCOTT CALIFORNIA! Do not go to theaters and watch movies made there, do not vacation in California, do not hold or attend any conventions there, do not buy any products made there.
Report Post »the_zazzy
Posted on September 19, 2011 at 2:48pmHopefully it’ll be as reliable as my “Made in China” vacuum cleaner and hopefully, Pelosi drives on it often! Best wishes, Nancy!
Report Post »Bill in Texas
Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:34amThis story has been out since 2003. Alarming yes, supprising, not for California.
Report Post »Bill in Texas
Posted on September 20, 2011 at 12:00pmFoxholeAtheist
Bless your heart! I’ll pray for you.
Report Post »Federated Republic
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:31pmImporting steel from foreign sources has been going on for a long, long time.
My first job out of high school back in the early seventies was working as electricans helper on a 500,000 volt transmission line that ran across north Louisiana for Central Louisiana Electric Company (CLECO).
All of the steel for the massive 140 foot towers came from India, we even found Indian newspapers in some of the steel bundles;-)
Our politicians and the unions have regulated and priced our country out of the bulk steel business, we have no one to blame but ourselves for this debacle.
Report Post »grampdad
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:38pmNot just the unions and gov’t, but management that was unwilling to challenge the outrageous demands. In the 60′s I saw the willful slow down and damage to new steel mills by workers and no response by management. Just like Dodge, done by drunk, drugged, democrat, destroyers, determined to drain the auto industry from our shores.
Report Post »Al Gored
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 8:05amThe component that failed on the Deepwater Horizon was overhauled in China to save money.
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:25pmoll i just can t believe that Cali. would be a sell-out .. they are known the be the welfare whores of America
Report Post »Nunya_Biz
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 1:42pmThey might as well sell out…Idaho is selling out to China and so is 3 other states. Google Idaho and China. Wow…what a way to get a foothold…
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on September 19, 2011 at 7:26pmhttp://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-boise/idaho-to-be-first-chinese-state
“This program comes with special tax exemptions to the foreign firms moving here. American companies do not get the tax exemptions; So much for the Constitution and equal protection. “
Report Post »68Truthseeker
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:23pmWayne Madsen Discusses Obama’s Indonesian Citizenship and Fraudulent CT. SS# – 9/15/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvGLo8ZCklY
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:15pmAnd CA is going to trust anything made in China???? If I were a Californian I think I would not use it.. take the long way around.. take a boat.. but not on a bridge with China made products..
Report Post »no wonder American‘s don’t have jobs… they are all over sea’s.. and what sucks.. American businesses in foreign countries.. giving .foreign people.. American jobs.. Shame on them.. and shame on American’s who still buy their products..
Huladeb
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 3:52pmI only blame the companies if they support the Democrat regulation machine. Other companies are just trying to survive with the hand they have been dealt by the government. If you were the CEO of a company and knew that you either stay here and support your workers as your company dies, or you relocate and continue to make money for your stockholders, which would you do?
As for GE planning to team with China, that would be a no go for me because the GE machine through Immelt pushed the Democrat agenda and paid no income tax – that company deserves scorn and boycott.
I also don’t blame consumers for buying whatever they want from wherever they want. Why pay more for products and support the very coercive unions we are against? I do not want unions to force Americans to pay more for products – unions are out of control and always want more.
Now, Americans are lamenting the quality of goods coming out of China and other countries, and that is a fair argument. And some businesses in the US are able to hold their own, because people will pay more for the difference in quality when compared with Chinese goods. I will buy an American product of good quality over a Chinese product and pay a few more bucks for it. But I will not pay a higher price for an American product no better than a foreign product.
Freedom. That‘s what it’s all about for the consumer and businesses. Cut union strangle-hold of business and take a scalpal to laws and regs holding business back.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:12pmWell, you can expect that one to collapse sometime in the near future!
Report Post »hootman509
Posted on September 17, 2011 at 8:22am04-Jan-2007
Report Post »Please be aware that failures of P91 (high strength 9 Chromium – 1 Molybdenum) piping
material have been reported in China. A (company name omitted) client and a pressure vessel fitting
(PVF) supplier (company name omitted) have alerted of a potential issue concerning P91 piping that
failed in China during 2006. According to these sources,
• these failures have resulted in 6 fatalities
• the manufacturing quality of the pipework is suspect and the failures occurred within 8 weeks of
being placed in to service
• the P91 pipe is being referred to as “fake pipe”
• the failures have occurred only in China
• the pipe was manufactured in China
• some of it was marked as having been manufactured in Houston, Texas, but it was not
• the pipe was hot expanded, which caused cracking, and failed after 6 to 8 weeks of service
• some of this pipe may have been shipped to the US and elsewhere
TomFerrari
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:08pmIt could be our own fault for ignoring our own steel industry, and even over-regulating it.
We built the latest and greatest steel mills in Japan, as part of the peace treaty with them.
So, they made the less-expensive, better steel, while our own steel mills fell into decline.
When will we stop trying to be the doting mother to the rest of the world?
Report Post ».
.
.
NuffSaid
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:08pmThank California! I hate the thought of crossing a river on anything union made.
Look for the union label and p*ke.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:15pmHow dare you blame the unions! Why just look at those guys in the automotive plants in Detroit…that guy making $72.00 an hour to operate a robot on the assembly line and install two screws in the left hand headlight…why, if not for the lifetime pension and medical benefits, he could barely get by on that pitiful wage for such backbreaking labor.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:26pmDon’t forget all the stress related to said labor that is causing him to also drink a 12-pack and smoke a spliff during his 2-hour lunch break right after he pops a couple of Vicodins and some xanax to create that Zen state of mind…..
Report Post »DanWesson455
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:06pmProbably end up like the Minnesota Bridge, in the water. Where are our steel workers and unions? No protests about using foreign steel? Oh Ya, we have no steelworkers left. The Bunny Huggers won that one years ago…..Unions keep aligning yourselves with the left and you will continue to be left out.
Report Post »code green
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:37pmMake no mistake the Iron Workers Union will hang all the iron ,an do all the welding.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:04pmHouston Ship Channel does business with Shanghai Zhenhua for it’s cranes.
Report Post »You can bet California has similar equipment to assemble the structure.
The deeper you dig, the dirtier it gets.
Centralsville
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:01pmCalifornia is dead. America is dying. The West in general is on the decline. Decades of wasteful government spending and Western liberalism have taken their toll. Get used to it, our greatest days are in our past. No politician or political party can turn it around.
Report Post »JimmyP
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:01pmDidn’t I read somewhere that the Unions are looking to expand oveseas?
Can‘t wait for Trumpka’s Union of Chinese Prisonworkers to strike for better toilet paper and a reduction to a 70 hour workweek and congugal visits!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:00pmLook for it to start rusting apart in 2-3 years.
Report Post »JimmyP
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:58amRACISTS! You Tepid Tea-Partiers all know you oppose this outsourcing of Union Jobs because Barrack Hussain Obama is black, er, well, half-black, yeah, he lived the black experience in the US during the turbulent 60s and 70s and 80s, un, I mean-he’s well sorta black, yea, he’s got the total unflagging support of all black social and political organizations, well at least he’s blacker than William Jeffereson Clinton, OK, so he has dark skin.
What better proof can we offer that BHO is not in the tank for Unions, than he does not oppose outsourcing – even by government entities!
Oh wait, Obama had nothing to do with this?
The good people of CA refused US dollares so they could be on site 24/7 to carefully watch the Chinese $12/hr laborers?
Nevermind!
Report Post »NuffSaid
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:18pmHalf an a**hole is better than none, I guess.
Racist? Wow. That really hurt my feelings. Oh gee I don’t wanna be a racist, gee!
You accuse white people of being racist? How many white belong to the Black Caucus? How many white executives are stupid or naive enough to take a meeting and give a speech at a company who is sending jumps overseas? This cheap burglar is a farce!. How many American will state out loud in front of other Americans that they will support BO BECAUSE he is black. Racist? Obunger could do a gradute level instruction on affecting racism to the advantage of the “victim.
“Talk about racism- Black America has run out of room to blow their mouths about this crap. They are running out road real quick.
You will never convince me the half of obugger’s genes are getting staying home, doinking the ho‘ next do’ and and sucking the life out of the other half of his genes.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:56amOh yeah…..it’s always better if made in China. Two million well paid Chinese factory workers with quality being Job 1.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:46amWhat could POSSIBLY go wrong…?
Report Post »HKS
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:44amWhat, a liberal state not buying American? What about their unions? Are they OK with this? I thought they didn’t care what things cost, just raise the cost of making it for the good of the working man, who cares that you can’t sell it, just do it.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:54amThe Unions leaders are communist and their concern is more about political power than the working man it always has been.
Report Post »cntrlfrk
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:44am‘
Liberal response: “The Chinese workers just want a better life for their families.”
.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:52amCalifornia say it didn’t use Federal funds for the project so exactly where did a state 56 billion in debt pull 7.3 billion dollars from? Their arse? I know they put alot stuff up there in California but I highly doubt they put 7.3 billion up there.
Report Post »The FBI, and special investigators need to find out where the money and hold everyone involved to the highest criminal charges.
TEIN
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:41amHehe!!! Libby/Progressive Calif. won’t support their Union buddies?? Get ready to be squashed US Union’s.. unless you have joined the world Union league…China is showing you the new model for Unions..get ready for a pay cut!!!! Oh and by the way..from all the caring Libby/Progressives out there who enjoy distribution of wealth, they say thanks to the useful US Union idiots…
Report Post »pap pap
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:41amIsn’t it great what the unions have done to our country ???
Report Post »Mort
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:41amYet again the leaders in this country fail to understand, that US workers, are taxpayers, and consumers. If they have no job they pay no taxes, if they have no job they buy no products.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:40amPesident Obama did say “Made in America”.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:39amSee the new black panther supporter President did cretae jobs with the stimulus…..in China that is…..
Report Post »can’t wait for the new infrastructure bank to start hiring around the globe for jobs American should be doing.
Gonzo
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:36amCalifornia loves the unions, until it’s time to pay for union steel.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:35amWhere is the outrage about the slave labor used to manufcture such cheap goods? I would never trust any steel from china. Remember the wlkway that collapsed in a vegas hotel. It was due to substandard chinese made steel. What about the moldy drywall that was used in the building of condos here in Florida. It cost owners a fortune to get that cleaned up. How about the kids toys that had lead based paint on them? Wake up!!!
Report Post »spirited
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:43am“…slave labor used to manufcture such cheap goods”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YES!
>The bridge will of course be painted r e d –the color of warm blood– … right?
Report Post »hi
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:50amI agree. Look at everything they make, poisonous dog food, arsenic in apple juice, and lead in toys!!
When I taught a Junior Achievement course for junior high, I learned that we HAVE to accept crap and cannot set standards for imports from other countries because it is the International LAW agreements we have entered into!!!!!
I also agree…look what unions did to USA. Unions are the reason all of our companies left. No, they can’t compete with $12 wages, but their demands are so ridiculous. Unions are destroying America.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:06pmYa notice barack’s love child GE is moving manufacturing to china? It’s like barack is trying to convince us that worl is flat when we know its round. His puppets hit the talk show circuit and regurgitate the same crap about creating jobs hoping it will catch on and the blind will fall into place. Meanwhile, more and more jobs are send to china and india and we keep giving tax payer handouts to illegals.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on September 16, 2011 at 12:11pm@JLGunner
Report Post »Agreed. Where are the outraged celebrities who came out when Nike was making sneakers?