SF's Millennium Tower now tilting more than ever to the west after early recovery

NEWS WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHOT. >>> THE SO-CALLED FIX FOR THE MILLENNIUM TOWER IS MOVING INTO THE FINAL PHASE. >> JAXON VANDERBEKEN TELLS US IS HAPPENING JUST IN TIME. EARLY SIGNS OF THE TILT REVERSING DID NOT LAST LONG. >> Reporter: THE MILLENNIUM TOWER IS TILTING MORE THAN 29 INCHES. BACK IN JANUARY ENGINEERS ANNOUNCED THEY HAD REVERSED SOME OF THAT TILT BY SUPPORTING PART OF THE TOWER WITH STEEL TOWERS. THE NEXT PHASE INVOLVES SUPPORTING THE TOWER ON THE WEST SIDE BY TRANSFERRING MORE OF THE WAY TO 12 PILES ALREADY SUNK ALONG FREMONT STREET. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT TO STABILIZE THE TOWER WHICH WAS STARTING TO REVERSE ITS TILT TOWARD THE WEST. BUT THAT SUCCESS IT TURNS OUT HAS BEEN SHORT-LIVED. THE BUILDING IS TILTING MORE TO THE WEST AND EVER. THAT HAS CRITICS WONDERING ABOUT WHETHER THE FIX WILL WORK IN THE LONG- TERM AS ADVERTISED . >> AS FAR AS THE WORK GOES, THIS IS A MESS. >> Reporter: THE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER AND LONGTIME SKEPTIC OF THE PLAN TO FIX THE MILLENNIUM TOWER . >> YOU SEND ALL THIS MONEY AND YOU HAVE AN UNCERTAIN RESULT. >> Reporter: ENGINEERS RELY ON TWO TYPES OF MEASUREMENT. WHAT IS TRACKED WITH THIS REDLINE REFLECTING TRENDS. WHEN THE TOWER WAS SUPPORTED BACK IN JANUARY, YOU CAN SEE THAT REDLINE JUMP UP. THAT WAS A SIGN OF TILT REVERSING ITSELF AND RECOVERING BACK TO THE EAST. THE REDLINE HAS BEEN HEADING DOWN SHOWING THE TOWER IS TILTING 1/2 INCH TO THE WEST BEFORE THE TOWER WAS SUPPORTED. HE SAYS THAT ROOFTOP MEASUREMENT IS PRONE TO WEATHER FLUCTUATIONS. HE POINTS TO FOUNDATION BASED MEASUREMENTS. SHOWN HERE ON THIS PURPLE LINE AS BEING MORE RELIABLE. THE PURPLE LINE SHOWS A QUARTER INCH OF ADDITIONAL 12 AND HE CONSIDERS IT NEGLIGIBLE. WE ARE CONFIDENT THE FOLLOWING THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER MOVEMENT OF THE ROOF TO THE WEST. PIKE SAYS THE DATA SHOWS THE TOWER IS TO FIND THE EXPECTATIONS AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO KNOW IF THE BUILDING WILL STOP TILTING AFTER IT IS SUPPORTED TO THE PILES ON THE WEST SIDE . >> THE DESIGN TEAM HAS ALWAYS CLAIMED THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME REBOUND AFTER THEY CONNECT THE PILES. THE EVIDENCE SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. >> Reporter: OFFICIALS SAY THE WORK TO TIE THE FOUNDATION TO THE PILES ON FREMONT IS EXPECTED TO START A CODE DAYS. NBC BAY AREA NEWS. >> IF YOU HAVE A STORY PLEASE

Channel: NBC Bay Area

Views: 1,324,240

Keywords: Millennium Tower, San Francisco, Investigative Unit, Bay Area news

Id: 5DOJNeLEPBA

Length: 3min 18sec (198 seconds)

Published: Sat Jun 10 2023