Bay Bridge Demolition Will Take Longer Than Expected

New projections say a tear down could take between five and seven years.

Nostalgic commuters will have plenty of time to drive down memory lane when the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge opens in 2013.

The demolition of the side of the bridge that connects Oakland to Yerba Buena Island is expected to take longer and cost more than initially expected.

The new projection for removal of the eastern span is between five and seven years at a cost of $244 million, according to The San Francisco Examiner.

Caltrans initially predicted that the tear down would take about two years but the initial projection was a preliminary one.

The complexity of taking down portions of the 75-year-old span and potential environmental hazards, like lead-based paint, have caused the inflation of the time line.

Thursday the Bay Conservation and Development Commission will vote on whether to approve a demolition permit for the bridge.

An original one was approved in 2001 but because the projection has changed so much it will require a new vote.

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