San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is Open No Second Weekend Closure Needed (October 26-29)

State of California • Department of Transportation

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Today’s Date:            October 22, 2012

District:                      4 - Oakland

Contact:                     Traci Ruth/Steve Williams

Phone:                        (510) 286-6120/(510) 286-6195

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is Open

No Second Weekend Closure Needed (October 26-29)

San Mateo and Alameda Counties – Commuters who use the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge will be able to use the bridge for their commute Monday morning after Caltrans’ crews made

quicker-than-expected progress during a weekend closure, enough progress in fact to cancel a planned full closure for next week.

“Public safety and convenience are top priorities for Caltrans,” said District 4 Director Bijan Sartipi. "This project is a reflection of how Caltrans works with our contractors to achieve the greatest public safety with the least public inconvenience."

Caltrans and the contractor reopened the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge at 4 a.m., one hour before Monday morning’s commute. There will be no full weekend closure next weekend, October 26 through 29. This successful weekend offers great news for anyone who needs the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge for their weekend plans.

Saturday, the contractor made great progress on the westbound deck replacement and these efforts created an opportunity to also replace the eastbound bridge deck span this weekend as well. Crews continued to work hard through the day and night Sunday to open ahead of the 5 a.m. Monday scheduled reopening.

Motorists can expect lane closures as needed so that crews can continue working to complete the project; however, there will not be any further full weekend bridge closures.

Also, during the closure, Bay Area Toll Authority crews replaced crash cushions at the toll plaza and Caltrans Maintenance Crews took advantage of the full closure to complete roughly two months worth of maintenance work including:

•    100,000 square feet of structural painting

•    170 tons of paving

•    220 feet of guardrail replaced

•    90 signs replaced

•    50 square feet of graffiti removed

•    40 drains cleared

•    3 truckloads of litter

•    3 truckloads of vegetation (weeds)

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