It was meant to happen at 5 a.m this morning, but officials, and those who had worked so hard to complete construction of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge, just couldn’t wait any longer. The task was complete, the bridge was ready to do its job.
So — after a two-hour opening ceremony, replete with VIPs, including Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan — the brand new, gleaming white stretch of suspension bridge welcomed its first vehicles at 10:15 pm. on the night of Monday, September 2. Fittingly, for the hundreds working on construction crews on the bridge for the past 12 years, it was Labor Day.
Berkeleyside contributing photographer Pete Rosos — who had spent much of this weekend documenting the bridges, both old and new, for us — was there to chronicle the first vehicles and their happy drivers making the crossing.
Related:
New bay bridge opens, and a safer route to the East Bay (09.003.13)
New Bay Bridge span: 2 minutes, 3 years of building [01.08.13]
Lightning strikes Bay Bridge in midst of dramatic storm [04.13.12]
View from the water: New span of Bay Bridge takes shape [10.05.11]
Sneak peek: Up close on the new Bay Bridge span [02.14.11]
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