Lane Realignment To Allow New Bay Bridge To Open Earlier

OAKLAND (KCBS) - The new Bay Bridge eastern span should open four to six months earlier than planned, according to Caltrans, but it will require some lane adjustments.

It's not as drastic as the addition of the S-curve, but the changes are coming in May. Caltrans is creating new lanes where the bridge currently touches down on the Oakland side.  Current traffic lanes west of the toll plaza will be pushed slightly south, according to Caltrans. 

The lane detours will allow construction crews to complete the new eastbound lanes ahead of schedule. 

KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:

The original plan was to allow westbound motorists to start driving on the new span while eastbound traffic would have stayed on the original bridge, according to Caltrans.  During that time, the old westbound lanes would have been demolished and workers would finish the final portion of the eastbound roadway.

Instead, both eastbound and westbound traffic will be rerouted slightly, allowing for faster contruction of the new eastbound lanes.

"That alignment is actually a bit of an easing of what we have out there right now. It's a little bit of an improvement," said Ney.

In early 2012 crews will come back and talk about an alignment change to be made on the westbound side.

Work has already begun to move utilities and clear a space for the new eastbound lanes just south of the current ones in place. They will have the same number of lanes and the same speed limit.

To see a computer simulation of what the lane change will look like click here.

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