Bay Bridge Commuters Face 5-Day Closure As Construction Nears End
OAKLAND (KCBS) - Caltrans is warning the Bay Bridge could be closed over a five-day span as the work to complete the new eastern span grinds toward a planned 2013 Labor Day weekend opening.
"In order to do that, we are going to have to take the existing bridge out of service for a number of days," said Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney. "And, we're in the process of calculating that right now."
"It is possible that it could be up to a five-day closure in order to do all the work that we have to do to get the new alignments in place," he warned.
"We're already under a year, we've got 360 days left from right now," declared Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney this week.
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
For busy commuters, the prospect of a five-day closure may seem daunting. But, it's a drop in the bucket when you consider the entire length and scope of the project.
"The actual construction for the east span of the bridge began in 2002," said Ney.
The skyway was the first major element erected. Construction of the self-anchored portion of the span began in 2004 and continues to this day. Ney described that as the most visual - and the most challenging - element of the project.
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