Caltrans, working together with the CHP has decided to slow traffic down across the new S-curve on the Bay Bridge, by closing one to two lanes of the Bay Bridge's upper and lower decks during off-peak hours.

The lane closures are intended to warn and slow vehicles approaching the S-curve to the posted 35 MPH speed. CHP officers will also be on duty enforcing the speed limits on the bridge.


Caltrans officials say this won't cause any traffic jams because the lanes will only be closed during off-peak hours.

The lane closure on the westbound deck will start past the toll plaza and will extend through the Yerba Buena Island tunnel. The eastbound lane closure will start at the center anchorage of the West Span and will end just past the Yerba Buena Island detour.


The off-peak hours are as follow:
Weekdays
Westbound: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. and 11 p.m. - 5 a.m.
Eastbound: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 11 p.m. - 6 a.m.

Weekends
Westbound: 11 p.m. (Fri) - 7 a.m. (Sat) and 11 p.m. (Sat) - 9 a.m. (Sun)
Eastbound: 11 p.m. (Fri) - 8 a.m. (Sat) and 11 p.m. (Sat) - 9 a.m. (Sun)

Other safety actions include install additional 35 MPH signs, reflective striping on the barrier rails and radar signs that tell motorists how fast they are driving.

The S-curve is a temporary detour on the Bay Bridge put in place during Labor Day weekend 2009 to reroute traffic around building of the new East Span near Yerba Buena Island.

The spot has been plagued by more than 40 accidents since then, including a fatal crash this week in which the truck driver plummeted over the side of the span. CHP investigators say speed appears to be a factor in the crash.

The speed limit on the Bay Bridge is 50 MPH, but that is reduced to 40 MPH on the S-curve; drivers of large trucks are urged to drive 35 MPH or less on the S-curve.

At this time, Caltrans has not determined for how long the lane closures will occur.