Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Commuters adjust to Bay Bridge closure

A crash briefly marred the bridge viewed as the main alternative to the closed-down Bay Bridge early this morning, but otherwise traffic has been relatively calm as motorists gear up for the brunt of the commute.

Crews worked through the night to repair damage caused when three pieces of steel used during an emergency repair over Labor Day weekend fell onto the upper deck of the bridge, hitting a truck and two cars Tuesday evening.

Caltrans did not have an estimate for when the repairs will be completed. There was some good news, however, with the announcement that the materials needed for the repair are now on hand at the repair site east of the new S-curve on the bridge.

"We have all the materials on site," said Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney. "But there's no prediction as to when we'll reopen."

In general terms, Ney said the repairs should take "days at the longest."

The Bay Area's roadways were not significantly more crowded in the early morning hours today. A non-injury crash reported about 5:35 a.m. slowed westbound traffic on the San Mateo Bridge but that has since been cleared.

BART is expected to run longer trains beginning at 4 a.m. and as needed throughout the day, Caltrans spokeswoman Lauren Wonder said in a statement. The trains are most packed between 7 and 8 a.m., so commuters are advised to avoid traveling at that time if possible.

Piedmont resident Ida Alvarez said she woke up at 5 a.m. for an 8 a.m.


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