San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge closed indefinitely

Truckers crossing from Oakland to San Francisco and points both north and south will need to take alternate routes after the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was closed indefinitely Tuesday night due to the failure of a rod and metal brace on the 73-year-old bridge.

The rod, which was installed over the Memorial Day weekend as part of earthquake upgrades to the bridge, according to an Associated Press report, snapped during rush-hour Tuesday night. The snapped rod brought down a three-foot section of the brace, weighing roughly 5,000 lbs., California Highway Patrol Sgt. Trent Cross told KTVU-TV.

A California Dept. of Transportation spokesperson told Fleet Owner the bridge is being evaluated today ahead of any determination of how length the closure will last. The spokesperson advised truckers heading north to use the Richmond San Rafael Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge or the San Mateo Bridge and Interstate 880 as alternate routes.