Had the Auburn Dam been built, this bridge would be over a very large lake.
12-year span since Foresthill Bridge got full inspection
By Tony Bizjak - tbizjak@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, November 2, 2007
In the pantheon of spectacular California bridges, the stiletto-thin Foresthill span outside Auburn stands out. At 730 feet, its canyon-spanning roadway is the highest in the state.
Since the catastrophic Minneapolis bridge collapse in August, the foothill span is iconic in a worrisome new way.
Foresthill Bridge, which shares the same architecture as the Minneapolis bridge, has not undergone a full, up-close inspection of all girders since 1995, according to inspection records.
That falls short of federal requirements that all key girders be checked at arms distance every two years.
State officials say they have conducted close inspections of most of the bridge's important girders every two years and insist the bridge is safe.
