Why was the I80 Sacramento River bridge closed?
 

This morning it took us 3 hours to get out of the Bay Area. First we tried the San Rafael bridge which was closed due to an overturned tractor trailer, then I80 East, but the bridge over the Sacramento River was closed and we ended up on CA-4, way out of the way!

First, anyone know why it was closed? I looked on the Caltrans website and didn't see anything. I'm always curious about what held me up later on when I encounter traffic. Second, man have I learned my lesson about checking the traffic before leaving in the morning (we don't have much traffic where we live)!

I believe you are referring to the I-80 closure at the Carquinez Bridge. This was due to a truck overturning and spilling diesel fuel. It shut down the Eastbound bridge for three hours that morning.

CA4 is not that far out of the way but I understand the traffic was horrible.

Well, s**t happens!

Hi JennyL, it was not any Sacramento River Bridge which is further north, it was the Carquinez Bridge which crosses the Carquinez Straight (between Crockett and Vallejo). A big rig wine trunk overturned. You were lucky to be able to turn off on Hwy 4 and continue on but of course I understand your frustration. Freeway I-80 is horrible, it often has terrible accidents that causes traffic slowdowns. And when an accident happens on one of our SF/Bay Area bridges the delays are headache producing.

Was the wine ok?

Well, it's sort of a "Sacramento River Bridge" because that is where the river eventually comes into San Pablo Bay after the smaller Suisun Bay. (I had to look on a map to find that out <grin>)

(Hi back to you LoveItaly. Things are good, and I hope the same for you.)

The Kals were here on 08/13 for lunch, and Mr Kal said something about Carquinez bridge being closed.

J, was it wine or beer? We laughed at it too, what a waste :)

The Kals arrived home safely and they didn't mention any problems with any other bridges.

Hi there jtrandolph, I am glad all is going well for you. I am fine, enjoying the coolish weather here which is quite unusual for our area at this time of the year. A miracle actually. Well keep in mind the high 80's to low 90's is considered "cool" here in the southern Sacramento Valley as normally at this time of the year we are getting trip digits temps. Best regards.

And regarding the wine..I think it was "lost" from what I heard but I really do not know the exact details.

The bridge/strait is between Suisun Bay and San Pablo Bay. Not near the Sacramento river at all (unless you really stretch and consider Suisun Bay part of the river)

Yes, I know I was stretching it, but it is Sacramento River water even if it is in a "bay/

Heck - there is Sacramento River water in LA :)

Yeah....."stolen water". They should get their own.

"Yeah....."stolen water". They should get their own."

Yeah - at the very least, they should be more careful with the water we send to them. No more watering their sidewalks at 3 in the afternoon in the summertime - LOL.

Unfortunately for us N. Californians, LA is where the votes are.

Sad but true.

MY

For the best CA traffic info you need to check the CHP www site. You can get a "clean" view of the dispatch traffic as it happens.

If you have wireless internet you can track it "real time" on the road.