Bay Bridge Traffic Update: Span Returns to Slow, Slow Normal After Spill
Update, 9:20 a.m.: Traffic continues to return to normal on the East Bay commute to the Bay Bridge after this morning's materials spill at the span's west end.
But wait. Normal? Yes -- that means it's just pretty slow getting to the bridge. According to 511.org travel estimates, the drive time is now 41 minutes from University Avenue in Berkeley to Fremont Street in downtown San Francisco. The trip from the Highway 24/I-580 merge in North Oakland is 37 minutes. From West Oakland on I-880, it's 38 minutes.
This will be our final update on this morning's mini-carmageddon. Please enjoy your commute.
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Update, 7:30 a.m.: Traffic has actually improved dramatically on the Bay Bridge itself after Friday's early-morning spill. Now the issue is getting to the bridge. The 511.org estimated drive time to downtown San Francisco from University Avenue in Berkeley and from the Highway 24-Interstate 580 merge in Oakland is still more than an hour. The trip along the westbound Nimitz, I-880, from West Oakland, appears to be a little faster, with 511.org reporting a travel time of 25 minutes to downtown S.F.
Original post: Something you know already if you've attempted your usual morning commute across the Bay Bridge: An early-morning materials spill -- the material involved is apparently dry-wall compound -- has all but shut down westbound traffic across the span while crews scramble to clean up the mess.
The good news: The California Highway Patrol reopened all lanes at 6:45 a.m. Unknown is how long it will take for the epic Friday-morning traffic jam to clear.
California Highway Patrol Officer T.J. Shively told KQED's Ted Goldberg that a truck spilled the dry-way compound just before 4 a.m., just west of the Fremont Street off-ramp. Cars that rolled through the slick substance skidded out, leading the CHP and Caltrans to close all but one of the lanes exiting the span.
Needless to say, the Bay Bridge approaches have turned into a parking lot. Traffic on other bridges, especially the Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo spans, has been heavily impacted.
On the other hand, BART and San Francisco Bay ferries are running on time:
Best source of information on traffic conditions right now: 511.org.