Money Approved For Bay Bridge Span To Open Early
OAKLAND (KCBS) -- Another $100 million has been approved to build a new eastern portion of the Bay Bridge, so the entire span could open sooner than expected.
The Bay Area Toll Authority's oversight committee approved the money on Tuesday morning.
Originally, one direction was going to open in late 2013 and the other about a year later, but Caltrans has moved up the project so both will open in 2013.
KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:
Caltrans spokesman Bart Ney says the money will pay for a bonus for the contractor and some other engineering details.
"Now that we know that we can bring the bridge together in one year we have to make some refinements to it and we have to accelerate the work over there," he said.
Ney said they want to open up a new, safe bridge as soon as possible -- even if that means more money.
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