I-80 Weekend Closure: What to Know About August Journey Over the Carquinez Bridge

The Carquinez Bridge, which connects Vallejo in Solano County to Crockett in Contra Costa County by way of Interstate 80, is scheduled for closures for upkeep work this month — on two separate August weekends. 

And this may affect anybody hoping to journey between the East Bay and locations like Napa, Sonoma, Sacramento and the Lake Tahoe area, in addition to weekend commuters.

Caltrans advised KQED that it’s investing roughly $1.4 million into rehabilitating the suspension bridge that carries visitors alongside westbound I-80 — often known as the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge — within the path of Crockett.

August’s work will happen in two separate phases: first, closing one lane on westbound I-80 on Friday and Saturday this coming weekend, adopted by a significant closure of all of westbound I-80 over the bridge Aug. 21-24.

Hundreds of 1000’s of automobiles cross the Carquinez Bridge every day, making it one of many Bay Area’s key visitors connectors. Keep studying to be taught extra about these upcoming closures, what choices you will have for detours whereas upkeep work will get underway and why this work is being performed now.

When will the Carquinez Bridge have closures this month?

The Carquinez Bridge is made up of two separate bridges: a cantilever bridge carrying visitors north to Vallejo on eastbound I-80 and the suspension bridge going south to Crockett (westbound I-80), often called the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge.

It’s necessary to make clear that deliberate upkeep work will solely affect the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge — the one of many two spans that extra resembles the Golden Gate Bridge — on I-80 west. Traffic coming from Contra Costa County going north to Vallejo on 1-80 east won’t be affected by both closure. 

But throughout the full bridge closure later this month, any drivers attempting to drive into the East Bay alongside I-80 from locations like Napa, Sonoma, Fairfield, Vacaville or Sacramento — or returning dwelling from the Sierra Nevada — ought to plan to take a detour (extra under).

A better take a look at every closure:

Minor: The one-lane closure this weekend

On Friday, Aug. 7, crews will shut one lane of westbound I-80 over the suspension bridge at 6 p.m. and reopen the subsequent day, Saturday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m. 

Cars can nonetheless get by means of the bridge however ought to anticipate extra visitors.

During this 25-hour partial closure, work crews can be testing out a brand new form of asphalt they plan to repave your complete bridge with throughout the second part of labor. 

Major: The full closure coming later this month

On Friday, Aug. 21 at 10 p.m., Caltrans plans to fully shut westbound I-80 on the Carquinez Bridge — for your complete weekend. 

The bridge will reopen on Monday, Aug. 24 at 3 a.m.

During the 53-hour closure, no visitors will be capable to transfer by means of the bridge, together with pedestrians and cyclists.

These closures are vital to verify the bridge will get the upkeep it wants, stated Sabrina Martinez, Caltrans’ public data officer for Solano County. “The asphalt that’s on it right now is good for 20 years, and we’re reaching that age,” she stated. “It’s showing signs of wear and tear. This is a preventative work that we’re doing.”

Remember: You’ll nonetheless be capable to use the opposite span of the Carquinez Bridge to take eastbound I-80 within the path of Sacramento whereas the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge is closed.

On the Vallejo facet approaching the bridge, Caltrans can even block off the northern phase of westbound I-80 that weekend, going all the way in which again to I-780. The westbound I-80 on-ramps in Vallejo on the next streets can be closed off throughout this upkeep work:

• Sonoma Boulevard
• Sequoia Avenue
• Magazine Street
• Lincoln Road West

“Caltrans maintenance will take advantage of the closure and go on the [I-80] freeway and do any maintenance work that they have scheduled,” Martinez stated.

What various routes are advisable throughout the Carquinez Bridge closures?

During the smaller Aug. 7-8 closure this weekend, Martinez stated drivers ought to nonetheless be capable to make it by means of the bridge. “They just need to expect delays,” she added.

But drivers ought to plan an even bigger reroute for the larger Aug. 21-24 closure. For westbound I-80 drivers coming from Solano County, one out there choice could be:

• At exit 30A signposted Benicia/Martinez, take the eastbound I-780 towards the Benicia-Martinez Bridge;
• Stay on I-780 — which turns into I-680 — throughout the channel over to Benicia 
• Take exit 53 onto westbound State Route 4 to Hercules;
• Then, take exit 1B to modify again to westbound I-80.

Another choice that might be extra sensible for drivers heading to San Francisco is to take State Route 37 to Novato and switch to Highway 101 to cross the Golden Gate Bridge.

And for those who’re within the Sacramento space and are used to taking I-80 to cross the Carquinez Bridge, change over to I-680 in Cordelia to get to the Benicia-Martinez Bridge as a substitute.

What public transit choices can be found throughout the Carquinez Bridge closures?

Caltrans is encouraging commuters within the Vallejo space to think about taking the Vallejo-San Francisco ferry throughout the full Aug. 21-24 closure. On weekdays, there are 13 ferries scheduled to depart from Vallejo’s ferry terminal to San Francisco, and eight on weekends. It takes an hour to get to San Francisco’s Ferry Building.

SolTrans has two bus routes that cross Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge: the 60 line that connects Fairfield to Richmond; and the 82 line that connects Fairfield to San Francisco.

Caltrans expects these routes to be diverted throughout the closure beginning Friday, Aug. 21. KQED has reached out to SolTrans for particulars on these reroutes.

Alternatively, 60 and 82 bus riders can take these routes to the Vallejo Transit Center, switch to the 70 bus that goes all the way in which to the Concord BART station after which take BART to their desired vacation spot. 

Why are there two separate Carquinez Bridge closures deliberate — and why can’t they simply be performed at night time?

For this upkeep mission, Caltrans can be utilizing a kind of asphalt concrete sourced from the biggest deposit of pure asphalt on this planet: Pitch Lake in Trinidad and Tobago.

Martinez stated this asphalt is understood to be sturdy and good for waterproofing. But crews first want to check the asphalt combine and can be working a take a look at strip on the bridge throughout this week’s partial closure.

The second, longer closure will start with crews eradicating the previous asphalt on the night time of Friday, Aug. 21. The new asphalt can solely be utilized when temperatures are 70 levels or increased, Martinez added.

“During the day, once temperature hits, crews can drop down the new asphalt and let it cure for the weekend,” she stated.

As for why these closures are taking place throughout daytime hours, the asphalt that Caltrans is utilizing to repave the bridge can solely be utilized when it’s hotter than 70 levels. Crews anticipate hotter climate throughout the daytime, Martinez stated.

If the climate just isn’t heat sufficient throughout the Aug. 21-24 weekend, Martinez added, “we do have a contingency plan in place.” Maintenance work could be moved to a later date, she stated — most probably the next weekend.