Overnight lane closures on Bay Bridge to delay eastbound traffic through October — NBC Bay Area

RESOLVING THE LEDGER

Overnight lane closures on Bay Bridge to delay eastbound traffic through October — NBC Bay Area | AIPROPX

Drivers heading from San Francisco to the East Bay at night should brace for some slow going the next two months. Caltrans has kicked off lane closures on the eastbound direction of the western span of the Bay Bridge five nights a week to make way for maintenance.

The closures — which involve closing four of the roadway’s five lanes — run every Sunday through Thursday starting at 10 p.m. and wrapping up around 7 a.m.

“This work requires overnight lane closures on the Bay Bridge which can result significant delays for motorists who are checking out the city or checking out a concert or a game,” said Caltrans spokesman Pedro Quintana.

Caltrans said the land reductions are necessary so crews can paint the bridge steel and repair concrete surfaces on the roadway. The work is expected to run until October.

Quintana said the agency is trying to minimize the impact on the driving public by delaying the lane closures on night’s when San Francisco is hosting major concerts or sporting events. Quintana said Caltrans delayed full lane closures on Sunday night to accommodate fans heading home from the Outside Lands music festival.

“We are working carefully,” Quintana said, “to coordinate the work and strategically adjust those lane reductions to minimize impact on the traveling public.”

The agency begins each night’s session of work by closing a single lane of traffic at 10 p.m., and easing into the full four lanes closure by 2 a.m. On nights when there of big events in the city, the agency can push back implementing the full four-lane shutdown.

While the closures officially began Sunday night, Caltrans has been performing work for months that’s led to extended lane closures and delays. For residents on Treasure Island who rely on the Bay Bridge, it’s already proved a hassle.

“I hate it, they squeeze us all into one lane,” said Treasure Island resident Eric Draper. “I mean I was coming home at two in the morning the other day and it took forever to get from the entrance of the bridge to the exit for treasure island.”

Others took the slow going in stride.

“I actually think it’s smarter to do it at night than at the rush hour,” said Treasure Island resident Reggie Boyd. “Rush hour gets pretty busy.”

Caltrans says its own research showed traffic patterns dropping off around 10 p.m., which is when they scheduled the shutdowns. In the past, they’ve started later into the night. Quintana said drivers should plan ahead, and use public transportation or alternate routes if possible.