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SF Marathon to Impact Golden Gate Bridge Traffic Sunday

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On Sunday, July 29, 2012 the SF Marathon will again cross the Golden Gate Bridge, accompanied by the closure of streets, parking lots and Bridge lanes.

We have all the information you need here at our sister site, OurSausalito.com.

To our Subscribers:  We apologize if you got two emails about this event.  We're trying to inform readers of each website since both the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito are affected, and we recognize that some people are subscibed on both lists.  We very much appreciate your support.

Alert: Doyle Drive to be closed April 27-30, 2012

 

We have all the information you need on the closure at our sister site, OurSausalito.com.  Click here to go to the story.

Alert: Monday and Tuesday overnight Park Presidio Closures Postponed

 

Why do we feel like we're in a Soap Opera?

24 hours ago we reported to you that Caltrans had alerted us that next Monday and Tuesday nights, August 9-10, there would be overnight closures of the southbound ramp from Doyle Drive to Highway 1 (Park Presidio Blvd.) adjacent to the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza.

16 hours ago I drove into San Francisco and saw lots of signs saying the lanes would be closed on August 14-15.  

We just got an email from Caltrans (and thanks to their press people for trying to do the right thing) saying that the closure was postponed but that there was no new official date for the next closure and they'd let us know when there is one.

The one reassuring thing we can report from this is that once a firm decision is made the Caltrans press liaison updates us really efficiently.

At least it's easier than keeping track of whether Alejandro has returned home to beg for Karen's forgiveness, or if Will is really the illegitimate son of Patrice, Crown Prince of Liechtenstein.

The CalTrans map below shows the location of the closures.

Caltrans has a graphics-rich website with information about the project here.

 
 
 
 
 

Text Copyright (c) 2010 OurGoldenGate.com.  All Rights Reserved.

 

Alert: Closures of SB Doyle Drive to Park Presidio Ramp Next Mon. and Tues. August 9-10

 

The next construction-based closure of the ramp from southbound Doyle Drive to southbound Highway 1 (Park Presidio Blvd.) will NOT be on a weekend, as we have all come to expect.  Instead it will be next Monday and Tuesday nights, August 9 and 10, from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM.

The CalTrans map below shows the location of the closures.

The alternate route to the Richmond and Sunset Districts and Highway 1 is to stay on Doyle Drive and follow it onto Lombard St., then turn right (south) on Van Ness  Blvd.  

To continue south on 101 stay on Van Ness and follow the signs.  

To return to Highway 1 and Park Presidio Blvd. take Van Ness to Geary and turn right (west).  Geary will take you about 2 miles back to where you can re-join Park Presidio (between 12th and 14th avenues.)

Caltrans has a graphics-rich website with information about the project here.

 
 
 
 
 

Text Copyright (c) 2010 OurGoldenGate.com.  All Rights Reserved.

 

Traffic Alert: Just 1 Lane on Doyle Drive at Golden Gate Bridge Sat. July 17 at 10 PM to Sun. 8 AM

 

If you're going to San Francisco this Saturday night or meeting a late flight at SFO, we suggest you get back across the Golden Gate Bridge before midnight if possible.

Doyle Drive will be cut down to one lane in each direction for the Presidio Parkway construction work adjacent to the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza from 10:00 PM Saturday night to 8:00 AM Sunday morning.  This effectively makes Highway 101 and the Golden Gate Bridge a 2-lane highway for eight hours.  The back-ups could get very long, especially northbound from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM.

The CalTrans map below shows that the side streets from the toll plaza parking lots will remain open, but they also have very limited capacity for relieving traffic.

The ramp from Doyle Dr. to southbound Park Presidio Dr. through the MacArthur tunnel is open, but you'll have to get through the narrows of Doyle Drive to reach it after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.

CalTrans is responsible for Doyle Drive, while the Bridge District sets the lane dividers on the Golden Gate Bridge.

The only alternate route is to use the Bay Bridge and Richmond - San Rafael Bridge to avoid the Golden Gate Bridge and Doyle Drive completely.

Caltrans has a graphics-rich website with information about the project here.

 
 
 
 

Text Copyright (c) 2010 OurGoldenGate.com.  All Rights Reserved.

 

Ramp from NB Park Presidio to Doyle Dr. Closed Midnight - 5 AM July 9-10

 

We just got the word from Caltrans:

If you're going to SFO to pick someone up late this Friday, July 9 or Saturday, July 10, if it's after midnight you'll need to come back to Marin via Van Ness Ave. and Lombard St. or Bay St. in San Francisco.  The ramp connecting 19th Ave. and Park Presidio to Doyle Drive and the Golden Gate Bridge will be closed (starting at Lake St., the last cross street before the tunnel) from midnight to 5:00 AM for construction.

Alternate routes to the Golden Gate Bridge from the City, SFO and the Peninsula:

1.  Take 101 north instead of 280 and 19th Ave, and follow the signs for the Golden Gate Bridge.  They'll route you up Van Ness Ave. to Lombard St. to Doyle Drive, which avoids the closure.

2.  Take 280 north to where it ends and follow the Embarcadero up to Bay St. (just before Fisherman's Wharf).  Turn left on Bay and follow it all the way through the Marina and to the Golden Gate Bridge.

3.  If you're in western San Francisco, take 19th Ave. north to Geary Blvd.  Turn right on Geary, take it for about 2 miles over the hill and turn left on either Franklin or Van Ness.  Either one will take you to Lombard St. and the Golden Gate Bridge.

If you don't mind steep hills, take Geary east about one mile and turn left at Divisadero.  It will take you over a steep ridge and down to Lombard St., where you can turn left to reach the Bridge.

Caltrans has a graphics-rich website with information about the project here.

 
 
 

Text Copyright (c) 2010 OurGoldenGate.com.  All Rights Reserved.

 

July 3 "Getaway" Traffic on Golden Gate Bridge Already Heavy

We were pleasantly surprised on Friday night when there were some bad clog points on Doyle Drive but the Golden Gate Bridge traffic was actually less congested than we had expected.  

Of course, as one of our editors commented, "It was bad enough to make you angry, just not bad enough to make you suicidal."  But journalists are known for their cynical attitudes.

Thus far on Saturday morning of the big Fourth of July weekend the traffic has been making up for lost time: it's been slow from the construction zones on Doyle Drive up through much of Marin.  There have been a few open patches on the Waldo Grade and north of Central San Rafael, but there are just too many people going to Tahoe and the Wine Country.

You can always use our webcams page to check traffic on the Bridge and on Doyle Drive.

AFTERNOON UPDATE:  The morning rush has cleared, and the only remaining tough spots are the transitions from Lombard and the Marina to Doyle Drive, which knot up and clear periodically.  If you're lucky you may even sail through those problem areas.

LATE AFTERNOON UPDATE:  The traffic on Doyle Drive is backed up for at least a half mile approaching the Golden Gate Bridge, but once you reach the Bridge itself things open up a little and the Waldo Grade is near the speed limit.  It slows again as you approach the Novato Narrows.

Copyright (c) 2010, OurGoldenGate.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Reminder: Northbound Park Presidio ramp to Golden Gate Bridge Closes at 10 PM Tonight

If you're driving down to SFO to pick someone up late tonight you may need to take a different route home to get to the Golden Gate Bridge.  The full story is here.

Copyright (c) 2010, OurGoldenGate.com.  All Rights Reserved.

Northbound ramp from Park Presidio to Doyle Drive Closed Overnight June 18-19

 

If you're picking someone up down at the San Francisco airport late on the night of Friday, June 18, be sure to come back to Marin via Van Ness Ave. and Lombard St. or Bay St. in San Francisco.  The ramp on "the Marin Airporter route" that connects 19th Ave. and Park Presidio to Doyle Drive and the Golden Gate Bridge will be closed overnight for construction.

They'll be moving the northbound traffic to the ramp onto a different bridge so they can tear down the old structure and build one that's seismically up to date.  If all goes as planned, the new interim roadway will be ready on Saturday morning, and for the full commute traffic volumes on Monday morning.

Alternate routes to the Golden Gate Bridge from the City, SFO and the Peninsula:

1.  Take 101 north instead of 280 and 19th Ave, and follow the signs for the Golden Gate Bridge.  They'll route you up Van Ness Ave. to Lombard St. to Doyle Drive, which avoids the closure.

2.  Take 280 north to where it ends and follow the Embarcadero up to Bay St. (just before Fisherman's Wharf).  Turn left on Bay and follow it all the way through the Marina and to the Golden Gate Bridge.

3.  If you're in western San Francisco, take 19th Ave. north to Geary Blvd.  Turn right on Geary, take it for about 2 miles over the hill and turn left on either Franklin or Van Ness.  Either one will take you to Lombard St. and the Golden Gate Bridge.

As with the current southbound configuration, CalTrans says we should be prepared to slow down for some twisty-turny spots on the temporary road while they build the earthquake-compliant causeway.  Please slow down and take care -- those of us who've passed that way 10,000 times tend to drive through on auto-pilot.

Caltrans has a graphics-rich website with information about the project here.

 
 

Text Copyright (c) 2010 OurGoldenGate.com.  All Rights Reserved.

 

Closure of Southbound Doyle Drive Ramp to Park Presidio Back on for This Weekend, May 21-22

 

We saw the big signs flashing on Doyle Drive again tonight as we drove down to SFO.  And this time they really mean it!

The temporary roadway that will divert southbound traffic transitioning from Doyle Drive (next to the Golden Gate Bridge toll plaza) around the construction work and down to the MacArthur Tunnel and Park Presidio Blvd. (Highway 1) is almost ready to start carrying traffic.

That means that this coming Friday night, May 21, the southbound Highway 1 offramp will be closed to traffic overnight, from 10:00 PM until 10:00 AM the next morning.  If all goes as planned, the new temporary roadway will be ready for use Saturday morning, and for its first full commute on Monday morning.

Note:  We initially mis-read the flashing signs as saying the ramp would be closed two nights.  We have confirmed that the closure is planned for just one night, Friday May 21.

CalTrans says we'll have to slow down for some twisty-turny spots on this temporary road while they build the permanent earthquake-compliant causeway in the area.  Please slow down and take care -- those of us who've passed that way 10,000 times tend to be on auto-pilot.

This was all supposed to happen a month ago, ahead of schedule, but then we were told that the closure was postponed indefinitely.  In this case "indefinitely" turned out to be four weeks.

Caltrans has a graphics-rich website with information about the project here.

Shameless bragging: we got the word out on this 15 hours ahead of the official media.  Of course, the six-foot-wide flashing signs on Doyle Drive helped!

 

Text Copyright (c) 2010 OurGoldenGate.com.  All Rights Reserved.