MorganHillTimes.com | North Bay sees heavy commute after Bay Bridge cable snaps

North Bay sees heavy commute after Bay Bridge cable snaps

Oct 28, 2009
By McClatchy News Service

By Gary Klien, The Marin Independent Journal

The Bay Bridge was ordered shut down for at least 24 hours Tuesday evening so crews can repair a cable that snapped at 5:30 p.m. in the westbound direction.

The Bay Bridge mishap occurred after construction materials that were used to repair a cracked eyebar over Labor Day weekend failed during the evening commute Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol said.

CHP Officer Peter Van Eckhardt said two high-strength rods and a brace that were used to repair a cracked eyebar failed at 5:45 p.m., snapping a cable, which then landed on the bridge.

The snapped cable, which is east of the new S-curve, hit three cars and injured one person with broken windshield glass.

A CHP official said the person sustained minor injuries but did not have to go to the hospital following the incident. No other injuries were reported.

The Bay Bridge was closed last month during the Labor Day holiday weekend, sending masses of commuters through Marin and jamming traffic on Highway 101, parts of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and some city streets.

Highways all around the Bay Area were jammed Wednesday morning, as commuters strained to find their way to work, school and other morning destinations. In addition, BART was overrun with passengers. The transit agency added cars to its trains, but reported that its parking lots were mostly full as of 8 a.m.

With East Bay commuters expected to detour through Marin on Wednesday morning, the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza will be fully staffed and open by 4 a.m., said spokeswoman Mary Currie. Normally, full staffing is in place around 6 a.m.

In addition, an extra high-capacity ferry will be available in Larkspur beginning at 7 a.m. to supplement the normal schedule as necessary.

"If we get a couple hundred extra people showing up, we're going to run it," Currie said.

She said buses will run as close to schedule as possible.

If the Bay Bridge, which carries about 260,000 vehicles a day, is still closed by the evening commute, the Golden Gate Bridge might open four lanes to northbound traffic.

The bridge district was sending e-mail alerts to commuters Tuesday night. Additional information will be available throughout the day Wednesday through the 511 telephone service and www.goldengate.org.

McClatchy News Service