The Bay Bridge suffered major damage from the devastating earthquake that struck California in 1989, but a North Tonawanda company's shock absorbers have been in place on the rebuilt span to try to make sure the next big earthquake doesn't cause the same type of deadly damage. Now, Taylor Devices, the North Tonawanda shock absorber manufacturer, will be upgrading all of the so-called seismic dampers it first made for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge back in 2001. All of the dampers will be replaced by updated devices that meet new state standards set by California regulators. It's a big deal for Taylor Devices, too: The $7.5 million contract is the biggest single deal that the company has received in its 63-year history. Protecting bridges and buildings from earthquake damage has become a significant part of Taylor Devices' business. The dampening systems, based on technology that originally was developed for the Space Shuttle program, use large shock absorbers that are designed to … [Read more...] about Bay Bridge is a big deal for Taylor Devices
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Giants romp in Bay Bridge opener; A’s Lowrie injured
By Henry Schulman Updated 10:34 pm PDT, Friday, July 13, 2018 The A's were afire after winning three of four in Houston. The Giants clawed their way to a series victory against the Cubs, needing 11 and 13 innings for their two wins. "They're trying to get to the postseason. We're trying to get to the postseason," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said hours before the first of six straight games against their Bay rivals. "These are important games." Behind Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey and two rookies, the Giants grabbed the first one decisively Friday night, 7-1 Bumgarner held the A's explosive offense to a Chad Pinder solo homer in six innings. After Reyes Moronta made like Houdini to fix a big Bumgarner mess in the seventh inning, with a huge assist from Pablo Sandoval, the Giants scored five runs against Oakland's bullpen in the bottom half to seal their fifth win of the homestand. Steven Duggar hit a two-run double in the inning to cap a great Bay Bridge Series debut. … [Read more...] about Giants romp in Bay Bridge opener; A’s Lowrie injured
Motorcycle crash near Bay Bridge blocks lane, causes delays
By Sarah Ravani Published 9:11 am PDT, Thursday, July 12, 2018 Photo: California Highway Patrol / Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 A man died Thursday night after stepping into the path of a car on Interstate 80 in Vallejo, triggering a chain reaction crash. A man died Thursday night after stepping into the path of a car on Interstate 80 in Vallejo, triggering a chain reaction crash. Photo: California Highway Patrol / Motorcycle crash near Bay Bridge blocks lane, causes delays 1 / 1 Back to Gallery A collision involving a sedan and motorcycle Thursday morning caused one lane to shut down on Interstate 80 toward San Francisco, authorities said. A black Chevy Impala and blue motorcycle crashed about 8:40 a.m. on the interstate near the Fremont Street off-ramp in San Francisco, according to the California … [Read more...] about Motorcycle crash near Bay Bridge blocks lane, causes delays
Dramatic Bay Bridge chase: Woman escapes from trunk before fatal crash
By Rick Hurd | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: June 10, 2018 at 4:54 pm | UPDATED: June 12, 2018 at 5:45 am Witnessed the aftermath of a horrific car crash today at the Oakland/Emeryville border after a #SFPD police chase. Driver dragged from burning car. Passenger trapped and dies. @kpix @abc7newsbayarea @KTVU pic.twitter.com/gJiRCzLgWN — Barbara Llarena (@aahsomepr) June 11, 2018 EMERYVILLE — One of two people suspected in a San Francisco kidnapping Sunday afternoon died after a fiery vehicle crash with officers in pursuit, police said. The name of the woman has not been released pending notification of her family. The woman killed and a man who was driving were both suspected of assaulting a woman on Turk Street in San Francisco and forcing her into the trunk of the vehicle just before 3 p.m., San Francisco police Capt. Carl Fabbri said during a news conference broadcast on the San Francisco Police Department’s Twitter site. … [Read more...] about Dramatic Bay Bridge chase: Woman escapes from trunk before fatal crash
2 people with motorized scooters on Bay Bridge cause traffic jam
By Alyssa Pereira, SFGATE Published 9:38 am, Friday, May 25, 2018 Now Playing: Two men were recorded attempting to use motorized scooters on the eastbound Bay Bridge between San Francisco and Treasure Island on May 24, 2018. The driver who recorded the incident reported that they caused a traffic jam. Media: San Francisco Chronicle Mike Lee was getting onto the Bay Bridge Thursday from San Francisco headed east when he saw something he'd never seen before: two young men, probably in their 20s, with motorized scooters between the lane he was in and the northern wall of the bridge. The men were running red lights, he said, and caused a traffic jam on the 1st Street ramp at around 2:30 p.m. that day. "They did some zig-zag motions, passed the gas station on Folsom, then flipped a U-turn and jammed it onto the onramp," he told SFGATE. "From there, they jumped onto the emergency pedestrian walk on the left side of the bridge laughing." Taking motorized scooters, … [Read more...] about 2 people with motorized scooters on Bay Bridge cause traffic jam