While anxious commuters wait for Caltrans to reopen the Bay Bridge, the state may be losing nearly $450,000 a day from the loss of tolls on the bridge, according to the most recent report from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
The span, shut since three large pieces of a metal splint came crashing down on traffic Tuesday night, may be reopened as early as today. Caltrans is currently conducting tests of the repairs and cleaning up the work area. No one was seriously injured in the accident but the bridge was closed as crews began their nonstop repair work. The parts fell from a faulty Labor Day repair, when contractors repaired a large brace to protect a cracked bridge beam called an eyebar.
As expenses for the new Bay Bridge continue to pile up, the state may be losing approximately an average of $447,739 a day or $18,656 per hour in tolls on the bridge, the MTC report stated.
According to the latest Metropolitan Transportation Commission report, approximately 124,845 vehicles passed through the Bay Bridge toll plaza every day in the fiscal year of 2008-2009.
To help alleviate the congestion caused by the bridge shutdown, Bay Area transit operations have increased capacity to accommodate the displaced commuters. BART is running longer trains during peak hours and ridership increased by 49 percent Wednesday.
View the latest Caltrans twitter updates on the bridge’s status or alternative commutes at 511.
