SAN MATEO (KCBS) – Caltrans plans to close the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge for at least one weekend in October to install a permanent fix for a cracked beam discovered in an expansion joint two years ago, transportation officials said Thursday.
The bridge will be closed Friday night at 10 p.m. on October 19 and reopen the following Monday at 5 a.m.
“They’re hoping to complete the job in that first weekend, but if need be, the bridge will be closed again the following weekend,” said John Goodwin, spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, which oversees operations at most Bay Area bridges.
KCBS’ Margie Shafer Reports:
Caltrans moved quickly on a temporary fix for the damaged expansion joint when the problem was discovered in 2010. The permanent fix, which includes replacing part of the bridge decks, will cost $3 million, Goodwin said.
Transportation officials estimate 155,000 vehicles drive over the San Mateo bridge on a typical weekend. The closure will push most of that traffic onto the Dumbarton and Bay Bridges, Goodwin said.
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