Golden Gate Bridge Closing Jan. 10-12 For Installation Of Median Barrier
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District officials have up their efforts to spread the word about the bridge's impending closure, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Jan. 10 and ending at 4 a.m. Jan. 12.
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The installation of a new, 13,340-foot movable median barrier system will bring a different look to the drive between Marin and San Francisco counties and will replace the movable pylons currently used to separate the two directions of traffic.
District spokesperson Dana Fehler said when the bridge reopens; there will be a very different look for drivers coming south, down the Waldo Grade.
"Currently when you're going down the Waldo Grade you merge left to right. This time with the movable median barrier, you'll be moving right to left," she said.
"The lanes, according to Fehler will feel tighter. "Our lanes are already pretty narrow so six inches, it's going to feel different driving next to a barrier than driving next to those plastic pylons. We really want motorists to slow down and be cautious about that," she said.
The bridge district has released a video of what the new barrier will look like.
The estimated cost of the project is $30.3 million, with $20 million from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission via the state of California, $1.3 million in federal funds and $5.1 million from Golden Gate Bridge toll revenues.
During the closure, Golden Gate Transit buses will still be allowed to cross the bridge and will run on their normal weekend schedule.
Emergency vehicles also will be allowed on the bridge during the closure.
Vehicles traveling from the North Bay will have to use either the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge or Bay Bridge to get into San Francisco.
Golden Gate Ferry will expand its service to and from Larkspur and San Francisco to include late night trips.
There will be 15 departures from Larkspur to San Francisco starting at 5:45 a.m. Jan. 10 through 12:35 a.m. Jan. 11. Eleven of the departures from Larkspur to San Francisco will be half-hour high-speed runs.
There are 14 departures from San Francisco to Larkspur from 6:20 a.m. Jan. 10 through 1:10 a.m. Jan. 11. Eleven of the departures will be high-speed runs.
The Sausalito Ferry to and from San Francisco will operate on its regular weekend schedule. The trip takes a half-hour one way.
The bridge's east sidewalk will remain open to pedestrians and bicyclists, but the west sidewalk and parking lots at both ends of the bridge will be closed to the public.
San Francisco Municipal Railway 28-19th Avenue buses will be allowed to operate through the tunnel under the Bridge Toll Plaza.
U.S. Highway 101 in Marin County will close at the Marin City/Sausalito exit. There will be no southbound access from Marin City to the bridge and there will be no northbound access from Alexander Avenue.
Access to northbound Highway 101 will be available from Spencer Avenue and Rodeo Avenue.
In San Francisco, the Highway 101 closure will be at Doyle Drive and Marina Boulevard. There also will be a closure at the intersection of Park Presidio Boulevard and Lake Street. There will be no northbound access to Highway 101 between those exits and the bridge.
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