METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION: Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Joint Replacement Project on Track for July Completion

Metropolitan Transportation Commission issued the following announcement on June 3.

Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority today issued the seventh in a weekly series of updates on the work underway to replace 31 joints on the westbound upper deck of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. Another 30 joints on the lower deck of the bridge will be replaced next year.

Construction crews have now replaced 24 of the 31 upper deck joints, and work is underway this week at three more locations. The project remains on track for completion next month. Six of the seven remaining joints on the upper deck are of different types than those that have been replaced to date, however, and work on these six joints will involve the construction of additional structural steel components.This will slow the pace of progress in coming weeks.

Each of the original 1950-era joints is being replaced by a new joint that features a rubberized seal designed to shrink and expand with changing temperatures. This will prevent cracking of the surrounding concrete road deck.

To minimize impacts to commute traffic, joint replacement work is being done at night. Drivers can expect one lane of traffic to be closed most nights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. New steel plates have been installed at work locations. Drivers can pass over these plates at posted speeds. There is no need to slow down for these plates.

Original source can be found here.

Source: Metropolitan Transportation Commission