Commuters adjust to Bay Bridge closure

By ContraCostaTimes.com

"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.

The Alameda-Oakland Ferry also plans to run extra service on its ferry routes.

The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District announced that all southbound lanes of the Golden Gate Bridge at the toll plaza will be open by 4 a.m. to accommodate heavy traffic.

Additionally, the district will add a high-capacity ferry departing from Larkspur for San Francisco at 7 a.m.

If necessary, Caltrans will expand to two lanes the interchange from southbound Interstate 880 to westbound Highway 92 to handle the extra traffic load possible on the San Mateo Bridge.

Toll booths at all state-owned bridges and the Golden Gate Bridge are expected to be fully staffed, Wonder said."