How To Get Across Or Around The Golden Gate Bridge Closure: Ferries, Buses, Walking, Biking, Detours

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The longest closure of the Golden Gate Bridge ever on Friday, January 10th marks the first weekend since 1937 where drivers haven't been able to just pull out on Highway 101 and cross the famous strait, but just because you can't drive across doesn't mean you can't get around.

LIVE TRAFFIC MAPS: http://cbssf.com/traffic

During the installation of 1500-pound concrete and steel movable dividers, buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians can still use the bridge. Parking lots are closed on both sides, however. If you need your car, your options are Highway 580 over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, then the Bay Bridge into the city, or depending on where you're coming from, even Interstate 80 over the Carquinez Bridge, connecting to Highway 37 to get back to Highway 101. REAL-TIME TRAFFIC: http://cbssf.com/traffic

TIMES OF CLOSURES: Highway 101 both north and southbound will shut down at 11:30 p.m. southbound from Marin City and northbound from Marina Boulevard & Richardson Avenue, and Highway 1 at Lake Street. The entire bridge shuts down 31 minutes later, at 12:01 a.m. It reopens Monday at 4:00 a.m. or even earlier if work goes smoothly. CLICK FOR COMPLETE CLOSURES.

If work wraps up early, "zipper truck" drivers will take a few passes to practice on the real bridge setup, before traffic is allowed on at 4:00 a.m.

As for the soon-to-be-unnecessary hundreds of scuffed plastic yellow pylons, Golden Gate Bridge district spokesperson Priya Clemens tells CBS SF, "Their fate is uncertain. We've had several requests from the public for them as souvenirs, but we haven't yet decided what we'll do."

After the barrier is installed, speed limits will be reduced to 45 miles per hour on the Waldo Grade, from the current 55 miles per hour. Lane sizes will also be reduced by six more inches. For a large vehicle like the 7'1" Hummer H1, that leaves less than 14 inches on either side.
WIDEST LANE: Curb lanes will continue to be 11 feet after Monday.
NEXT WIDEST: Other lanes are 10 feet, except for the two next to the new foot-wide concrete median.
NARROWEST: Lanes adjacent to the concrete barrier will now be only 9 feet, 6 inches wide.

WEEKEND TRANSIT OPTIONS:

Golden Gate Transit BUS: Weekend service. Click HERE for timetables. Routes 10 and 17 & late night Route 70 trips will NOT operate in Sausalito. Use free shuttle and make all connections in Marin City.

Golden Gate FERRY: Added early-morning to late-night service on Larkspur Ferry. Late-night service added to Sausalito Ferry weekend schedules. Click HERE for timetables.

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE: Full History Of Span And FAQ

The installation of a new, 13,340-foot movable median barrier system will bring a different look to the drive between Marin and San Francisco counties and will replace the hand-placed plastic pylons currently used to separate the two directions of traffic.

District spokesperson Dana Fehler said when the bridge reopens; there will be a very different look for drivers coming south, down the Waldo Grade.

"Currently when you're going down the Waldo Grade you merge left to right. This time with the movable median barrier, you'll be moving right to left," she said.

"The lanes, according to Fehler will feel tighter. "Our lanes are already pretty narrow so six inches, it's going to feel different driving next to a barrier than driving next to those plastic pylons. We really want motorists to slow down and be cautious about that," she said.

The bridge district has released a video of what the new barrier will look like.

The estimated cost of the project is $30.3 million, with $20 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission via the state of California, $1.3 million in federal funds and $5.1 million from Golden Gate Bridge toll revenues.

During the closure, Golden Gate Transit buses will still be allowed to cross the bridge and will run on their normal weekend schedule. Emergency vehicles also will be allowed on the bridge during the closure.

Golden Gate Ferry will expand its service to and from Larkspur and San Francisco to include late night trips.

There will be 15 departures from Larkspur to San Francisco starting at 5:45 a.m. Jan. 10 through 12:35 a.m. Jan. 11. Eleven of the departures from Larkspur to San Francisco will be half-hour high-speed runs.

There are 14 departures from San Francisco to Larkspur from 6:20 a.m. Jan. 10 through 1:10 a.m. Jan. 11. Eleven of the departures will be high-speed runs.

The Sausalito Ferry to and from San Francisco will operate on its regular weekend schedule. The trip takes a half-hour one way.

The bridge's east sidewalk will remain open to pedestrians and bicyclists, but the west sidewalk and parking lots at both ends of the bridge will be closed to the public.

San Francisco Municipal Railway 28-19th Avenue buses will be allowed to operate through the tunnel under the Bridge Toll Plaza.

U.S. Highway 101 in Marin County will close at the Marin City/Sausalito exit. There will be no southbound access from Marin City to the bridge and there will be no northbound access from Alexander Avenue.

Access to northbound Highway 101 will be available from Spencer Avenue and Rodeo Avenue.

In San Francisco, the Highway 101 closure will be at Doyle Drive and Marina Boulevard. There also will be a closure at the intersection of Park Presidio Boulevard and Lake Street. There will be no northbound access to Highway 101 between those exits and the bridge.

COMPLETE CLOSURES:
North End of the Golden Gate Bridge - Friday, January 9
At 8:00 a.m.
Southbound Hwy 101 off-ramp at Rodeo Avenue (see map)
At 8:00 p.m.
Parking lots at north end of Bridge (see map)
Alexander Avenue at Conzelman (see map)
At 11:30 p.m.
Southbound Hwy 101 at Marin City (see map)
Southbound Hwy 101 on-ramp at Spencer Avenue (see map)
Southbound Hwy 101 on-ramp at Alexander Avenue (see map)
Northbound Hwy 101 on-ramp at Alexander Avenue (see map)
South End of the Golden Gate Bridge - Friday, January 9

At 8:00 p.m.
Parking lots at south end of the Bridge (see map)
At 11:30 p.m.
Northbound Hwy 101 at Marina Boulevard & Richardson Avenue (see map)
Northbound Hwy 1 at Lake Street (see map)
At 11:45 p.m.
Northbound Hwy 101 off-ramp at Merchant Road (see map)
Southbound Hwy 101 off-ramp at Merchant Road (see map)

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