Bay Area deals with detours, delays during I-80 weekend closure in SF

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Drivers are bracing for the planned 55-hour closure of eastbound lanes on Interstate 80 in San Francisco between 17th and Fourth Streets. The huge Caltrans project to repave the freeway started Friday at 11 p.m.

The giant repair project Caltrans warned us about is here. A 1.6-mile stretch of the eastbound I-80 Bayshore Freeway is closed this weekend.

"This is an important closure to allow Caltrans to revitalize and rehabilitate a major stretch of the freeway," said Lori Shepherd from Caltrans.

Traffic is being rerouted off Highway 101 on the skyway. Detours around the construction are posted everywhere in SoMa, but not all drivers got the message.

RELATED: Headed to San Francisco this weekend? Here's how I-80 closure will impact you

CORNELL BARNARD: "Did know about this?"

"No, no not at all," said Sandra Rkein.

To be fair, Rkein is visiting from Arizona.

But many locals were also surprised.

"I had no idea," said one driver.

By midday Saturday, the traffic jams many feared never really happened. Traffic enforcement controlled signal lights to keep cars moving back onto the freeway at 5th Street.

"I was advised about the traffic advisory today, but it hasn't been as bad as I thought it was going to be," said David Washinton from Richmond.

But a few hours later...

"It's just been a headache," said Latonya Green, an East Bay paratransit driver

We saw a growing backup on Bryant Street. Green says she's got stuck for 45 mins.

"I knew a little bit about it, but I didn't know it would be this bad," Green said.

Back up on the freeway, the work continues on schedule.

Essentially, this is a giant repaving project. Caltrans is using polyester concrete overlay to repair cracks for the next 10 years.

"Going forward, it will be a smoother ride, more importantly a safer ride, safer structure for motorists who use it all the time," Shepherd said.

Caltrans hopes to complete the project by 6 a.m. Monday.