I received this email from Suzan Meldonian of SFUPS:
For those of you who may or may not have heard, last week sometime between Wednesday and Friday, a large piece of cement broke away from the underside of the small bridge close to the South side. Phil saw this and reported it to the DOT. Per Phil this could be extremely dangerous if a diver was beneath busy taking photos and the next piece decides to give way- the diver wouldn’t see it coming and could be in grave danger.Where it is
Regarding the block of cement that has fallen down at the Blue Heron Bridge… it is located in the third section "swim-through" from the wall on the south side and is quite massive. So from the wall, hardly anyone goes through the first space as it’s too shallow and really dark. The next section is interesting, but I see old fallen cement there. The next partition (and I am using the pillars as the markers for each section) is much wider and is apparently where this portion, the size of a cement lamppost, has broken away.
GOOD NEWS!
The Department of Transportation is aware of the issue. They are on it! They have contacted the emergency maintenance crew whom has been out to assess the damage 3-4 times since Sunday. They already tried to break away the next section that has separated, but it did not fall with their efforts. They have determined that heavier equipment is necessary to dislodge more possible breakaways & to absolutely ensure safety. This is great news because it means protection of the bridge. Their immediate resolution is to purposely drop any potentially unsafe cement that is breaking away... They have assured us that this is a top priority. For the time being bridge divers should not dive through but if need to go through, swim through at the surface, and far away- so they can view any immediate hazard, but better still avoid the swim through altogether for the time being until loose fragments are secure.
Those who've seen the cement block agree that if another piece falls down, you wouldn't know what hit you. Keep in mind, you don't have to go "through" the bridge to get a dive in... for the last 4 weeks I haven't even been able to get over there as busy looking at the wrecks and what not... so, don't spoil your weekend just because "the bridge is falling down."
In meantime, the bridge has already been scheduled for serious maintenance/repair in January. I will keep everyone posted as I obtain more information.
Feel free to pass this along to other diver friends who dive the bridge. It’s for everyone’s safety.
Suzan Meldonian
SFUPS Newsletter Editor
