Bay Bridge overnight lane closures begin this week

• The work is expected to continue Sunday through Thursday nights into October.

What to expect: Lane reductions will begin around 10pm and remain in place until 7am, with the most significant closures taking place after midnight. One lane closes at 10, two lanes at 11 and the remaining ones at midnight, per Caltrans.

• Lane closures will occur from the San Francisco Anchorage/Rincon Hill to the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel.
• The work is part of a long-term project to protect the bridge's steel from corrosion and for general upkeep. The broader effort is expected to continue through 2031, the SF Chronicle reports.

Between the lines: Even though overnight traffic is usually lighter, narrowing the bridge from five lanes to as few as one or two can still trigger backups, particularly after concerts and sporting events or for late-night commuters traveling to the East Bay.

• About 270,000 vehicles cross the Bay Bridge on a typical weekday, making it one of the region's busiest transportation corridors.
• Even overnight lane reductions can ripple onto I-80 on-ramps and other connectors when traffic surges unexpectedly.
• Officials recommend allowing extra travel time, taking public transit or leaving before the heaviest lane closures begin when possible.

The bottom line: Plan accordingly.