Sometimes you need to slow down — or speed up, in the case of a timelapse — to appreciate what's right in front of you.

A stunning timelapse of the Bay Bridge has been making the rounds among San Franciscans, and honestly, it's a good reminder of something we don't talk about enough: infrastructure is beautiful when it actually works.

The Bay Bridge moves roughly 112,000 vehicles per day across its spans, connecting San Francisco to the East Bay and keeping the regional economy humming. It's one of those things that's so essential it becomes invisible — until it doesn't work, and then everyone has opinions.

But let's not just admire the view without asking the harder questions. The eastern span replacement, completed in 2013, came in at $6.5 billion — more than five times the original estimate. The project took over a decade longer than planned and was plagued by faulty bolts, cracked welds, and enough bureaucratic finger-pointing to fill a Bay Area rapid transit car. That's not ancient history. That's a case study in how California manages (or mismanages) major public works.

We're a state that loves to announce ambitious projects. High-speed rail, anyone? But execution is where things fall apart, and taxpayers are always the ones holding the bag when costs spiral.

So yes, watch the timelapse. Marvel at the lights dancing across the western span at dusk. Appreciate the engineering. But remember that maintaining and building infrastructure like this requires something Sacramento chronically lacks: fiscal discipline and accountability.

The Bay Bridge is a triumph and a cautionary tale. We should be proud of it — and demanding that future projects don't repeat the same expensive mistakes.