New Bay Bridge on and off-ramps set to open next week
File art -- Motorists should expect various overnight lane closures on the Bay Bridge from Oct. 15 thoguh Oct. 27.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Drivers heading westbound on the Bay Bridge will now have new ramps to enter and exit Yerba Buena/Treasure Island starting next week, according to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority.
Two new westbound on and off-ramps on Interstate Highway 80 taking drivers to and from the Bay Bridge and Yerba Buena/Treasure Island will open on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 22, SFCTA officials said.
Drivers are being asked to take note of the new on and off-ramps, as they in different locations than the current ones.
Once the new ramps have been opened, westbound drivers heading toward the island can exit from the far right lane of the bridge onto the new exit, which is slightly longer and curving.
The current off-ramp, which is located on the bridge's far left lane will be closed once the new one has opened, SFCTA officials said.
Once off the bridge, drivers can turn right onto Macalla Road to access Treasure Island or turn left to access Northgate Road to the U.S. Coast Guard facilities on Yerba Buena Island.
Drivers leaving Yerba Buena/Treasure Island and heading toward San Francisco can get onto the bridge through the new gently curving on-ramp, which provides a longer, safer distance for acceleration when merging with highway traffic.
Additionally, drivers heading west on the bridge will still have the option of using the current, shorter on-ramp on the west side of the island.
The current eastbound on and off-ramps will remain unchanged. Construction on the Yerba Buena Island East-Side Ramps Project first began in Jan. 2014. The total project cost $98.04 million, according to SFCTA officials.