Cracked beams discovered in San Francisco Transbay – Next City

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the new $ 2.2 billion Transbay transit center in San Francisco, designed as the "Grand Central Station of the West," closed on Tuesday after a crack. After inspection, the authorities found a second cracked beam, which means that the terminal, which opened to the public a little over a month ago, will remain closed until at least the end of the week.

The transportation center is located next to Millennium Tower, a 58-story luxury residential complex that has sunk 18 inches since it opened in 2009. This tower has been described as a "leaning tower" because taxpayers will have to pay at least $ 15.7 million. millions in legal fees; Developer Millennium Partners and the owners say the construction of Transbay has contributed to the sinking and tipping of the tower.

Officials said the cracked bundles were localized, however, with no impact on nearby developments.

"We apologize for this inconvenience to the public and commuters," said Mark Zabaneh, executive director of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, in a statement. "I would like to assure the public, it is a problem located in the transit center and there is no impact on adjacent properties."

The center of Transbay will eventually be a hub for trains as well as buses, if the projects proceed as planned.

As Next City has covered, the center has a rooftop park designed by PWP Landscape Architecture that includes 12 gardens and more than 400 trees. Like so many spaces in San Francisco – and New York and London – it is privately run, a distinction that can raise thorny questions about who is allowed to linger and what types of gatherings are allowed on his land.