New S.F. Bay Bridge Span Opens

A $6.4 billion replacement of the eastern span of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge opened late at night Sept. 2, the California Department of Transportation said.

Construction of the self-anchored suspension bridge started in 2002, the Associated Press said. It replaces a span that was damaged in a 1989 earthquake, and the new bridge was designed to withstand the strongest earthquake that would occur in 1,500 years.

The opening follows years of delays, cost overruns and political bickering, AP reported. In March, rods used to anchor the roadway cracked, pushing the opening back by months while a temporary fix was completed.

The double-deck bridge carries 10 lanes of Interstate 80 across the San Francisco Bay. Its western span, connected at an island to the eastern span, was not replaced as part of the project.

Crews had closed the entire bridge Aug. 28 to make the final changes to transition to the new span, AP said.