Eastbound Lanes Of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Reopen After Emergency Repairs
RICHMOND (CBS SF) -- Eastbound lanes of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge have reopened Friday after falling concrete forced the closure of the right lanes and shoulder for emergency repairs, according to authorities.
CHP reported that all lanes eastbound lanes had reopened by 3:40 p.m.
The fallen concrete was reported just west of the mid-span of the bridge around 12:45 p.m. The alert was issued shortly after 2 p.m. by CHP.
According to information posted on the CHP dispatch communication website, there were reports of concrete and debris in the right lane of the bridge midspan, as well as exposed rebar.
The #3 and #4 lanes and shoulder were blocked for the roadwork. As of 2:40 p.m., Caltrans inspectors had arrived at the location to survey the situation. Shortly afterwards, CHP confirmed that pieces of concrete had fallen onto the roadway.
A worker in a cherry picker actively knocked away anymore loose concrete from the underside of the upper deck so the east bound lanes of the bridge could reopen.
CHP provided photos of some of the pieces of concrete that were collected. The largest chunk that fell Friday was nearly the size of a football.
More concrete chunks fall from Richmond-San Rafael Bridge prompting emergency closures and massive traffic delays @AndriaKPIX @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/sgX4960yJ6
— Brian Dinsmore (@BrianKPIX) April 5, 2019
Additional pieces – mostly pebbles and small chunks -- were knocked off by that worker and collected in a bucket.
There was no specific word on what the work being done was or if the work was related to previous problems on the span due to chunks of falling concrete onto the lower deck of the bridge in February.
Since the February incident, highway work crews have closed lanes of the bridge in both directions for planned work to replace dozens of expansion joints.