LABOR DAY WEEKEND EMERGENCY REPAIR AND DETOUR CONNECTION COMPLETED
ON BAY BRIDGE

BRIDGE REOPENED AFTER CREWS LABORED THROUGHOUT WEEKEND

SEPT. 8, 2009
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge reopened at 7 a.m. after crews worked nearly 70 hours to repair a damaged steel beam that was discovered during the Labor Day weekend closure. The bridge was initially closed so workers could cut and slide out a 300-foot-long, 3,200-ton double-deck section of the East Span, 150-feet above Yerba Buena Island (YBI). A new 3,600-ton double-deck section was moved into place to connect the bridge to a short detour.

Read the entire Press Release

Bridge closure and transit information

• Labor Day Weekend Bridge Closure Fact Sheet
• Latest Issue of Bay Bridge News, Featuring the Labor Day Weekend Bridge Closure
• Final Preparations Begin for Bridge Closure
• Bay Bridge Labor Day Weekend Closure to Start Thursday Evening
• 511.org Transit Info & Planning
• CA-92/I-880 Driver Advisory
• AC Transit bus lines serving BART during closure
• Labor Day Weekend BART schedule
• Vallejo Baylink Ferry Labor Day Weekend Schedule
• Alameda Ferry Labor Day Weekend Schedule

During the closure, Caltrans conducted a regularly scheduled inspection, at which time a crack was found on a structural steel beam on the East Span; the damage was not related to the weekend’s scheduled construction. Caltrans conducts thorough inspections every two years as mandated by federal law. Transportation leaders estimated that the damage would be repaired and the bridge would be able to reopen by 5 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. However, crews worked throughout the night, and were able to make the repairs much faster than anticipated. The bridge reopened 22 hours ahead of the adjusted opening schedule.

“Thanks to the exceptional teamwork and dedication of the workers, we are able to open the bridge Tuesday morning,” said Caltrans Director Randell Iwasaki. “The bridge has been inspected and it is now safer than when we closed it on Thursday. I want to personally thank the dedicated design team and the contractor CC Myers and its subcontractors. Without their partnership, this reopening would not have happened. It would have taken much longer. We would also like to thank the Bay Area for its patience. We know it has been trying. Thank you for your support and understanding during this effort.”

Learn More About the Closure...