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CNN Live At Daybreak

California Governor Gray Davis Says Credible Threat Targeting Major West Coast Bridges

Aired November 02, 2001 - 08:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back to the issue of bridges at risk here in the United States, concern over terrorist attacks moves from east to west this morning. California Governor Gray Davis says there is a credible threat targeting major West Coast bridges at the worst possible time: rush hour.

CNN's Rusty Dornin is at the Golden Gate Bridge this morning with the latest from there -- good morning, Rusty.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula, and we'd show you the Golden Gate Bridge, but the unique character of the fog in this area, up until about three minutes ago, you could see the bridge. It just rolled in, completely obscuring both of the towers. But the moon is above us. The stars are shining.

Now, the rush hour has yet to get under way here, and it might be a little tricky today, because it's Friday, and it's usually a lighter commute today. So it will be curious to see how many commuters may be taking these warnings to heart.

Now, Governor Gray Davis, of course, issuing a severe warning yesterday that four bridges in California: the Golden Gate Bridge, which is, of course, a national icon; the Bay Bridge, which is the most heavily-traveled bridge in the state -- about 270,000 cars go to and from Oakland to San Francisco on that bridge every day; the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles -- that's spanning the Port of Las Angeles; and the Coronado Bridge, which stretches from San Diego to the North Island Naval Air Station, where often U.S. carriers are docked when they are on the West Coast.

Now, while federal officials have been backing off a little bit from the severity of Governor Gray Davis' statement, they are providing any backup needed, because if the public is fearful, they want to be there to provide any extra security measures. So we do understand the National Guard has arrived here at the Golden Gate. They will be stationed at both the north and south end of the bridges, and there will also be National Guard units at the three other bridges in the state.

That's in addition to the Coast Guard units, which have been doing some extra patrols below the bridge. We have National Park Rangers up here, who also have been patrolling all night. There have been foot patrols, with flashlights, crossing the bridge all night. So they're really stepped up the security here.

But they are still allowing people to walk and bicycle back and forth across the bridge. They want people to realize and feel that they are safe crossing these bridges, that the security is tight, and they are keeping a watchful eye -- Paula.

ZAHN: Well, we even had a representative on from Oregon this morning that predicted what a nightmare the commute might be there tonight at the Golden Gate Bridge. Are people making alternative plans, or are they going to tough it out?

DORNIN: Well, it's -- the thing is there are no -- people who are crossing the bridge will not notice the difference, except to see additional Highway Patrol cars. They will see the National Guard out there, and they may see some other patrols crossing the bridge. But the cars are not being stopped and searched by any means, so traffic will proceed as usual.

Although there are at least one -- there is at least one company in the Bay Area that did let their employees know that they did not have to come to work, beginning today through next week, if they felt like they were unsafe. So there may be some companies who are offering their employees a chance to telecommute if they are fearful about crossing these bridges.

ZAHN: All right. Rusty Dornin, thanks so much for that update.

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