Caltrans warns San Francisco drivers of 45-minute delays due to weekend closure

San Francisco drivers should brace themselves for a weekendlong closure of a major section of Interstate 80 just south of the approach to the Bay Bridge.

At 11 p.m. Friday, Caltrans will close all westbound lanes of the Bayshore Freeway from Fifth Street to 15th Street until 6 a.m. Monday. Caltrans spokesperson Pedro Quintana told SFGATE that drivers will likely see 45-minute delays, and he stressed using public transportation.

“We’re really asking folks to literally have a game plan,” Quintana said. “We know that there’s gonna be a lot of activities happening in the city of San Francisco. We even have Doja Cat playing this upcoming Sunday at Chase Center.”

Caltrans is rehabilitating the Central and Bayshore freeway viaducts because they have been in place for 71 years, according to the agency. Because of their age, the bridges have seen heavy use from thousands of vehicles daily, plus weather and seismic demands.

The I-80 Bayshore Freeway weekend closure detour map from Caltrans. (Courtesy of Caltrans)

Over the weekend, Caltrans will add a concrete polyester overlay to the existing bridge, Quintana said. In April, Caltrans completed a similar project on the freeway’s eastbound lanes.

“We’re adding an extra layer of roadway on the bridge decks that will make it more resilient for the next 40 years,” Quintana said. “But also too, that means a much smoother ride for folks who are traveling along those viaducts.”

While the freeway is closed, crews will be preparing for El Niño, Quintana said. Crews will clear storm drains and manage vegetation.

Bay Area travelers can see a full list of detours on the Caltrans website. After this weekend, intermittent one-lane closures will continue. The project is projected to be fully completed by January 2028. The Interstate 80 closure is part of the larger “Fab-4” rehabilitation project series, which has also triggered major closures on Highway 101.

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