Bay Bridge Work Grinds On; Early Opening Hoped For New Span

OAKLAND (KCBS) - Transportation officials say the work to open the new Bay Bridge eastern span was progressing just as it should, as crews have been working nonstop since the last cars passed through the toll plaza Wednesday.

Friday morning much of the roadway had already been prepared for re-paving. Demolition work was also well underway on the 1,000 ft.-long section of the westbound bridge that has to be removed.

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"Friday is an important day. I think that, you know, everything is on schedule now," said Bay Area Toll Authority spokesman John Goodwin. "I would imagine that by Friday evening we'll have a better sense of where we are relative to the schedule."

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"But it looks like there may be an opportunity to get slightly ahead of schedule," he speculated on Thursday.

Also still to be determined: who would preside over the ceremonial torching of the chain to officially open the new span.

"The torch bearer hasn't yet been determined," Goodwin explained. "And it may be several days yet before we have even an inkling and this being the Bay Area who knows, there could be several sets of hands on that torch."

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