San Francisco's Doyle Drive Replacement Set To Open On Time
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Crews continued to haul in hundreds of tons of asphalt on Sunday to replace Doyle Drive in San Francisco, and the approach to the Golden Gate Bridge is set to reopen as planned Monday morning, according to Caltrans officials.
Doyle Drive, which is undergoing a $1.1 billion seismic upgrade project, has been closed since Friday at 5 p.m. while crews demolished key portions of the elevated roadway.
With most of the demolition completed, the road will reopen Monday at 5 a.m. as planned, Caltrans spokeswoman Molly Graham said.
After the closure, traffic will be transferred onto a temporary bypass that connects to a newly constructed southbound tunnel. The tunnel will accommodate traffic in both directions until 2015, when crews construct a northbound tunnel.
Also starting Monday, the five-lane approach to the bridge will feature a movable barrier that will allow three lanes to be dedicated to the busiest direction of traffic, Graham said.
Drivers should expect some delays, as commuters adjust to the new roadway, Graham said.
"Whenever there is a new roadway there is an adjustment period so we do expect some delays," Graham said. "We ask people to be patient and aware."
KCBS' Ted Goldberg Reports:
Caltrans officials warned drivers to stay away from the Golden Gate Bridge area as much as possible over the weekend, and drivers seem to have heeded the warnings. Traffic on Saturday was about 50 percent below the usually daily average of around 110,000 to 115,000, according to Golden Gate Bridge spokeswoman Mary Currie.
"The Bay Area was super cooperative," Graham said, noting that the light traffic made it easier to complete the project on time.
Caltrans crews worked around the clock to finish the project on time, according to Molly Graham, spokesperson for the Presidio Parkway project.
"We are well into it. You've seen a ton of demolition happen," Graham said. "Today, the focus is really on paving. On Saturday, the Bay Area was very cooperative by staying off the roads, which helps us construct the project."
Caltrans Construction Manager Dave Pang said he's happy about the timing so far.
"I'm just amazed. I come by in the morning and the bridge is gone," he said. "The bridge that's been there for 70+ years, it's just gone."
After this weekend's closure, drivers to and from Marin County will use a temporary bypass that connects to a new tunnel.
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