San Francisco

New Contract Means Old Bay Bridge Should Be Demolished By 2018

SAN FRANCISCO - Much of the upper portion of the old San Francisco Bay Bridge will be gone by 2018 under a contract awarded to the state.

The Oakland Tribune reports Friday that the eastern span will be razed by Caltrans, who won the $69 million winning bid for the demolition Thursday. A new eastern span replaced the old bridge in 2013.

The work is expected to begin this summer. It will be done to avoid the nesting seasons of birds that have made homes in the old structure.

This removal of the upper portion of the eastern span of the bridge is part of the second phase of the demolition. The first involved cutting the cantilever section at its center and starting to dismantle both sides, the newspaper reported.

Contracts for the third phase — demolition of the foundations, including the possibility of using explosives — will be considered later.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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