Traffic jams feared as S.F. approach to the G.G. Bridge torn down, May 27-29
San Francisco Chronicle / 4-25-12
The Golden Gate Bridge is known around the world, and the Bay Bridge enjoys at least regional renown. But Doyle Drive, the narrow and seismically fragile approach to the Golden Gate, is not so familiar, except to those who drive it daily, undoubtedly cursing its existence as they cross.
That lack of fame has transportation officials concerned that motorists, including tourists and day-trippers, will ignore the warnings of this weekend's 57-hour closure and demolition of Doyle Drive and cause a terrible tangle of traffic on 19th Avenue and Highway 1, the San Francisco approach to the bridge that will remain open.
"It can't handle the volume," said Molly Graham, spokeswoman for the Presidio Parkway, the $1.1 billion Doyle Drive replacement project. "On your average weekend, the 19th Avenue corridor is already congested. You can imagine what it could be like this weekend."
The 1.6-mile approach, which opened along with the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937, will close for good at 8 p.m. Friday between Marina Boulevard/Richardson Avenue and Highway 1. Demolition crews will then go to work on the elevated concrete structure. Using 40 hydraulic hammers, cranes and other heavy equipment hauled in from across the country, they'll punch holes in the 10 football fields worth of road deck, then rip apart the girders and support beams and chop down 280 concrete columns.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/25/MN581O8JU5.DTL
Even with the detour in place it'll be slow going for several years.
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