The Latest: Falling concrete shuts most of California bridge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Latest on falling concrete that shut down a Bay Area bridge (all times local):
6:30 p.m.
Authorities have reopened one eastbound lane of a San Francisco Bay Area bridge that was closed when concrete chunks fell onto a roadway.
The California Department of Transportation says the Interstate 580 Richmond-San Rafael Bridge was closed shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday when concrete fell from the westbound upper deck onto the eastbound lower deck.
Lanes reopened later but then quickly closed again when more concrete fell.
By evening, one eastbound lane reopened but the westbound lanes are closed.
The CHP says at least one car was struck but there were no injuries.
Caltrans crews are installing metal plates on the upper decks so those lanes can reopen.
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4:27 p.m.
A major bridge in the San Francisco Bay Area has been closed after large chunks of concrete fell from the upper deck.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that one car was damaged but no injuries were reported.
The California Highway Patrol posted an alert about the Richmond-San Rafael bridge closure shortly before noon on Thursday, saying there was no estimated time for reopening.
It was not clear what caused the concrete to fall. A CHP spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking more information.
The CHP posted photographs showing what appeared to be football-sized pieces of concrete that had fallen. The agency said it was working with Caltrans to determine the problem and find a solution.
The closure was expected to cause heavy traffic.
