An engineer on Tuesday brushed off reports that substandard steel may have been used to build the $6.4 billion eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge that carries 270,000 vehicles daily.

One familiar sight all over this park are the steel support beams from the old Bay Bridge. They are from the original eastern span of the bridge before it was replaced. MORE: Last truss of Bay ...

At 88, the Bay Bridge’s western span is aging gracefully — though parts of it are starting to deteriorate. The paint on its towers is peeling. Its cables have to be turned inside out for inspections.

Starting Wednesday morning, most drivers crossing the Bay Bridge or any of the region's seven state-owned toll bridges can expect to pay an $8 toll, instead of the previous $7.