Mud Spill Triggers Massive Bay Bridge Backup
TREASURE ISLAND (CBS SF) -- A mud spill possibly containing hazardous materials forced the closure of the exit ramp to San Francisco's Treasure Island from eastbound lanes of the Bay Bridge, triggering a massive traffic backup, California Highway Patrol officials said.
A mixture of mud and sand on the off-ramp was reported to the CHP at 4:45 a.m. and the ramp was closed as Caltrans crews worked to clean up what was a spill from a dump truck, CHP Officer Vu Williams said.
The mud and sand could be tainted with a chemical. CHP officials are still looking for the driver or the company responsible for the spill since the driver left the scene.
Charges could be filed for failing to secure a load and leaving the scene, Williams said.
Drivers who want to exit at Treasure Island will have to go farther east to the toll plaza and turn around and exit from the bridge's westbound lanes to Treasure Island.
CHP officials have not given an estimate for when the ramp will reopen.