Downed Wires Cleared From I-880, Traffic Resumes
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- Downed power lines across Interstate 880 in both directions near High Street in Oakland shut down traffic on the freeway for over an hour, according to authorities.
Shortly before 12:30, a big rig knocked over a power pole on city streets near the High Street exit in Oakland, bringing the live power lines down across the entire freeway, according to CHP.
Big rig on city streets struck a pole which brought lines down onto 880. @PGE4Me on scene, but both directions still closed. #Oakland pic.twitter.com/pO7ORd7kGu
— CHP Oakland (@CHPoakland) January 10, 2017
The downed wires were on top of at least one vehicle, according to the CHP's live incident online information. The driver of that vehicle was instructed to stay inside the car.
CHP in Oakland said PG&E crews will need to assist to turn off the power and clear the lines from the freeway. A Sig-alert was issued at 12:53 p.m. Authorities had estimated the closure to last for at least an hour, but later said the length of the closure was indefinite.
At about 1:39 p.m., CHP announced that northbound lanes of the freeway had reopened thanks to quick work by PG&E crews.
Southbound lanes of I-880 reopened about five minutes later.
Southbound 880 now open as well. Please keep your speeds down! pic.twitter.com/CUaqzC7gZf
— CHP Oakland (@CHPoakland) January 10, 2017
The freeway closure made a massive traffic jam in both directions on the freeway as drivers were diverted off of I-880 on both sides of the closure. Diverted traffic on surface streets made the area highly congested.
Big rigs were temporarily allowed on I-580 during the closure.