Silver Spring Transit Center: piecing together the lemon

It seems like there's something new to learn about the lemon Silver Spring Transit Center every day:

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Inside-the-Fight-to-Save-the-Silver-Spring-Transit-Center-274536691.html

"Hundreds of metal bars, called stirrups, that were supposed to be tied off and closed for strength at the troubled Silver Spring Transit Center were instead left open, then buried in concrete.

Much of the work taking place right now at the Transit Center is trying to locate the open stirrups inside the concrete, dig them up and close them off.

...

Problem after problem seems to creep up."


Without getting technical, suffice to say that stirrups are important in resisting torsion.

The "cage" formed by the stirrups and the longitudinal bars resist twisting (torsion).

Needless to say, it's important to "close them off" (tie the stirrups to the longitudinal bars).

• Where were the inspectors on this job? 
• Where was Montgomery County? 
• Will we ever stop finding out about problems with the lemon Silver Spring Transit Center?

Silver Spring Transit Center