Why weren't Bay Bridge problems caught earlier?

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - A lot of beachgoers are grumbling about the surprise repair work on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, just in time for Labor Day.

But is the bridge safe?

"Yes, absolutely. There's no question that the bridge is structurally sound," Maryland Transportation Secretary John Porcari tells WTOP.

Porcari says the bridge goes through a rigorous inspection program.

So how did inspectors miss the corrosion inside the jersey walls?

"This this is something that's not detectable through normal inspection procedures and it's something that has occurred slowly over time," Porcari says.

The chief engineer for the Maryland Transportation Authority says prior to the crash, there was no indication that something was wrong with the jersey walls.

"They inspected the bolts that hold the parapet walls in place, and they were structurally sound," Porcari says.

The corrosion "is a direct result of voids in the center of the concrete parapet, where moisture has become trapped," MTA Chief Engineer Geoffrey Kolberg says in a written statement.

The repair work begins on Thursday and if crews discover other parapet areas in need of strengthening, they will repair them immediately.

The entire process could take as long as 10 weeks, Kolberg says.

Meanwhile, the MTA says they will be adding extra staff members to handle traffic at the Bay Bridge during the Labor Day weekend.

The MTA says they will monitor traffic to ensure there are enough E-ZPass and cash booths to accommodate drivers.

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