The first tower sections of the Bay Bridge’s new suspension span are expected to arrive in the Bay Area later this week.

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The new pieces, which will connect to the foundation of the bridge, are expected to arrive in the Port of Oakland Friday or Saturday after leaving last month from Shanghai, China.

They are about 150 feet tall, each weighing more than 1,400 tons, and are the first parts of the signature portion of the new bridge. After the pieces arrive in Oakland, Caltrans officials say they will be inspected and moved on a barge to the construction site about two weeks later.

Deck sections of the bridge are already in place after arriving in the Bay Area from China in January. A dozen deck sections are in place, and more are scheduled to arrive from China in the coming weeks and months.

The new eastern span of the bridge is scheduled to open by the end of 2013.