Use of Chinese steel on Verrazano-Narrows Bridge project continues to spark concern

Judy L. Randall

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The use of Chinese-made fabricated steel for the upper deck replacement of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge continues to draw fire -- this time from workers on the project who point to non-conformance reports that cite problems with the welding on the orthotropic panels.

But the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says it has "eyes on the ground" in Shanghai, has engaged "welding experts" to oversee the work every six weeks and pledge that "the most stringent quality control" is being observed.

That's the word from Carl Redmond, MTA senior project engineer, who was among a group of MTA officials to present an overview of the project to the Advance Editorial Board.

But sources familiar with the work have told the Advance that the quality assurance sub-consultant to U.S. contractor Tutor Perini, Alta Vista, has pointed to welding issues on the panels, and filed nearly three dozen non-conformance missives which "remain unresolved."

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