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San Mateo Bridge To Close On Back-To-Back Weekends

HAYWARD (KCBS) – For the next two weekends, there will be one less bridge to cross in the Bay Area as the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge will be closed for a seismic safety upgrade.

The span is being closed so that crews can permanently fix a crack in a wishbone-shaped girder that was first discovered two years ago.

"That fix has held up very well," said Caltrans spokesman Bob Haus. "But in the meantime, we decided to go back and redesign a whole new system for that area. We're going to be putting in six bridge deck sections and a new seismic joint."

KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:

The closure on the weekends of October 19-22 and October 26-29 could be a problem for some sports fans. John Goodwin with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission said this weekend, with a possible Giants playoff game on Sunday along with a Raiders game in Oakland, not to mention "The Big Game" at UC Berkeley on Saturday, drivers may have to make alternate plans.

"Under any circumstances, Memorial Stadium is a difficult target to reach via car," Goodwin said. "BART is a great alternative. Take BART to Downtown Berkeley and enjoy a nice walk up the hill."

Latest KCBS Traffic Conditions

The bridge will be closed from 10:00 p.m. on Friday, October 19 through 5:00 a.m. on Monday, October 22 and again from 10:00 p.m. on October 26 through 5:00 a.m. on October 29.

Caltrans San Mateo-Hayward Bridge Closure Info

Along with the early warning, Caltrans will be putting up signs throughout the Bay Area to alert motorists about the closure.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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