I don't know that Cal Trans had much choice in picking Zhenhua in light of lowest bidder laws for state agencies in CA. But I believe once a contractor proves to be a bad actor, they get put on list that warns state agencies not to hire them even if the lowest bidder. No one should ever hire Zhenhua. No CA agency should hire an out of state (let alone foreign) bridge building company if a CA company can do the job.

The contracts and law always say "the lowest qualified bidder". The agency has an obligation to investigate whether the bidder can actually do the job in the time specified. It sounds like Cal Trans did not do their job.

Zhenhua promised they could do the job for $250 million less than the next lowest bidder. By submitting a bid to do the job, Zhenhua represented it would do the job competently, with competent subcontractors. According to the Sac Bee, the key problem was the nearly three dozen cracked steel anchor rods --made in Ohio--that failed, costing taxpayers $135 million. It was Zhenhua's duty to inspect those bolts. Cal Trans could not do it pre-bid.


Rather than blaming the victim, we should change the state bidding rules, and go after Zhenhua in court for every penny of overrun on the contract.

The victims are the taxpayers of CA and I am not blaming them. Cal Tran had the responsibility to make sure the bidder could do the job properly within the appropriate time. They did not do their job. If I bid to do the job for $6 does that mean they have to give the bid to me? You don't know what the law is.

Are you saying Cal Trans has no action against Zhenhua?!

But the way to do this is due diligence beforehand, not legal actions afterward.

poor quality work can put countless lives at risk, but anytime. Once again, our tax dollars were sent overseas.

The most telling sentence from the referenced article is:

"Two engineers who worked on the project, one for Caltrans and one employed by a contractor, told a California Senate committee in January that they were reassigned after they voiced objections about Zhenhua's work."

Who overrode their objections? That person is the one at fault.

This is just one more example of the movement in this country away from science and education. Once upon a time this country had confidence in scientists, now the emphasis is on cost and profit. Dreamliner, car recalls, VA benefits, etc. Look anywhere:

crappification

What the hel did anyone think would happen when raygun gave the marketer the seat that the engineer had?

Reagan was simply a front man for those paving their way into absolute power, and those who usurped it.
Simplifying, falsifying and exalting or reviling Reagan alone only gives cover to those who sought its shelter,
and they live on nursing and preserving reputations that should be beyond redemption.
Lets not blame the wrong folks, or let the real culprits off the hook by shouting Reagan every other sentence.
Its a canard.
GHWB and his progeny do appreciate it.

Reagan ushered in the age of the beancounter, reinstated cronyism, gutted the regulatory powers of the federal gov't, made anti-trust just a word in a history book, and made science a bad word (along with liberal).

Front man or not, he's the guy who opened the door to let them all in. Without him there would have been no progeny.

Difference between cause and blame.

having it both ways by demanding deeper analysis on the decision makers above those engineers, while
continuing to lionize Reagan, who was for decades simply a perfect spokesperson for money making interests.
Eventually becoming the sock puppet for a crew he had no love for.
Take those people who give GW absolute credit, or Dick Cheney, for that matter.
Those folks behind the curtain just keep on keepin on.

Reading a detailed analysis of the Bay Bridge debacle in yesterday's Sacramento Bee just made me sad and angry.