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Haight-Ashbury contractors faulted after five gas-line ruptures and sinkholes; city vows tighter oversight
Summary
A Jan. 14 Government and Oversight Committee hearing examined five gas-line breaks and two sinkholes tied to Haight Street construction. DPW removed subcontractor Synergy, PG&E and CPUC described procedures and findings, and supervisors pressed for stronger reporting, oversight and merchant relief.
A special meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Government and Oversight Committee on Jan. 14 focused on five gas-line ruptures and two sinkholes that occurred during a city-funded Haight Street construction project, disrupting merchants and residents and prompting calls for stricter oversight.
Supervisor London Bree, who called the hearing, said the incidents “disrupted and endangered the Haight Ashbury community for months” and expressed relief that “no one was seriously hurt.” Community leaders told the committee the sequence of ruptures and repeated work stoppages left businesses closed for days and months, with some merchants reporting revenue losses of 20 percent to 50 percent.
John Thomas, division manager for project management and construction at the Department of Public Works, described the project timeline: notice to proceed was issued April 27 and the first gas-line rupture occurred two days later. Thomas said DPW issued notices and met repeatedly with the prime contractor, Giladi Brothers, and with subcontractor Synergy as incidents accumulated.…
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