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CNN Saturday Morning News

Californians Cope With Bridge-Crossing Anxiety

Aired November 03, 2001 - 09:45   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: On the West Coast, there are no terror attacks to report, but there are (sic) plenty of fear and anxiety to go around. This, after California's governor went public with a warning that big bridges across the state could come under attack.

CNN's Thelma Gutierrez has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Daybreak over California. Thousands of commuters make the rush hour drive. But what if your commute involved driving over water on a high-profile California bridge, the Golden Gate, the Coronado, the Vincent Thomas, or the Bay Bridge?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I know, you know, wouldn't go there today.

GUTIERREZ: Would you? That's the question many Californians ask themselves after this surprise announcement Thursday.

GOV. GRAY DAVIS (D), CALIFORNIA: Between November 2 and November 7 at rush hour, there will be an effort to blow up one of those bridges.

GUTIERREZ: The governor says the information is credible, and the FBI says it still must be verified. Nonetheless, it is news unnerving for some.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Little nervous, actually, it's kind of scary to know that something could happen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd be really, really annoyed if they blew up that bridge, then I would really be pissed off.

GUTIERREZ: Some commuters have decided to stay off bridges and take the long way home just in case.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tend to have not-so-good luck, so I -- it just -- it would happen when I was going over it.

GUTIERREZ: In fact, to put employees at ease, the Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco sent out an e-mail to its 3,000 West Coast workers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Given what we know, that we don't want to force them to come in, and that they can work from home.

STEVE DREW, BECHTEL EMPLOYEE: Give people the choice of telecommuting, if they feel uncomfortable with traveling over the bridge. I think it's a responsible thing to do.

GUTIERREZ: But many Bechtel employees came to work anyway.

As for the people who work on bridges, on the Coronado Bridge in San Diego, union reps asked the state to grant toll collectors a leave from their duties, saying workers are at an extreme risk. Those who cross the main bridges saw a big show of security, California Highway Patrol, armed National Guards, military Humvees at six stations along the bridge.

And 24-hour air surveillance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I came over the bridge, I saw a CHP at the bottom of the bridge, very reassuring.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very safe, no problem. The police were well in presence, and I felt totally secure.

GUTIERREZ: In fact, the state is reporting bridge traffic is just about normal.

MICHAEL CAHUE, LONGSHOREMAN: I'm not going to drive an extra mile or two or three miles just because they're threatening our bridges. So, you know, I say, you know, to heck with them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is America. And if you let them scare you, then you're just falling into their hands.

GUTIERREZ: And so for now, the bridges will remain open under heavy surveillance.

Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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