Bay bridge construction complete, all lanes open year ahead of schedule
WITH LITTLE FANFARE THE WESTBOUND SPAN OF THE BAY BRIDGIS NOWOPEN.
THE PROJECTSTARTED OFF ROUGH WITHPLANNING PROBLEMS AND LARGBACKUPS BUT, WMAR 2 NEWS' DONHARRISON TELLS US PEOPLE AREHAPPY THIS PORTION IS DONEEARLY.úú Track: Good news for thosewho use the bay bridge.
Allthree lanes on the westboundside are complete.
A projectthat was slated for 2 yearswas paired down to a one yearoperation, mostly because ofcomplaints due to huge backupsin the beggining of theproject.
Sot: I mean, I livelike 3 minutes from the bridgeand it took me an hour and ahalf to get across to get towork.
Track: Those nightmaresshould be gone now.
The rightlane on the northern bridge,which usually travelswestbound, needed redecking.The project was slated to cost27 million dollars.
The finalfigures aren't there yet butofficials expect it to be lessbecause of the project wasaccelerated by overnight workand warm weather.
Some goodnews in bad times.
Sot: Ifthings get back to normalagain, having all lanes openwill be a big plus.
Sot: Amen.... Track: Kelly Gruinused to work at El Jeferestaurant on Kent Island.
Therestaurant is closed so she isout of work now but not out ofconcern for those who stillwork.
Sot: I'm happy for otherpeople who can gracefullytravel across the bridge.Track: The new e━ passreaders will be on the easternshore side of the bridge.
Whenthey come on line, all thetoll booths should go away.Sot: Officials tell me the newe━pass readers are 70%completed.