Part of Macarthur Maze (Bay Area) collapses after fire

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
M

mjh

Platinum Member
Oct 10, 2005
2,442
0
0
OAKLAND, Calif. - An interchange connecting highways to the busy Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge collapsed early Sunday after a tractor trailer hauling 8,600 gallons of gasoline caught fire, authorities said.

The truck's driver suffered second-degree burns, Officer Trent Cross of the California Highway Patrol told KGO-TV.

The tanker ignited after crashing into a pylon on an interchange connecting westbound lanes of Interstate 80, which includes the Bay Bridge, to southbound I-880 in Oakland, officials said.

The fire led to the collapse of a second interchange from eastbound I-80 to eastbound Interstate 580 located above the first interchange, Cross said.

The Bay Bridge's heavily traveled double decks run about two miles across the San Francisco Bay.
Click to expand...

linkage

Of course it just so happens that the Macarthur Maze is one of the busiest freeway interchange complexes in the country.

All the local news stations are all over this right now.
 
I

illusion88

Lifer
Oct 2, 2001
13,164
3
81
Heh, I used to drive that thing all the time when I was in California.
That sucks for everyone who has to communte, that really sucks. I hope they get it fixed soon.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,302
14,715
146
Wow...I drove that every day for 3 years...what a cluster-fvck traffic will be for the next few months...
 
A

andylawcc

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
18,183
3
81
Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
YOU MUST CONSTRUCT ADDITIONAL PYLONS
Click to expand...

Pylownz.


anyways, speaking of the aptly named maze, it was really frustrating when I was visiting a friend in Oakland and failed to find an onramp back onto either the 880, 580, 5 or whatever that can get me back on the freeway. All those aforementioned freeways are DIRECTLY above me and there's no onramp at all.
 
T

tomywishbone

Golden Member
Oct 24, 2006
1,401
0
0
"The tanker ignited after crashing into a pylon "


Stupid pylon. -H. Simpson

Edit: Anyone remember the Caldecott Tunnel tanker crash & fire? 1984ish... I think. What a mess.
 
D

DVK916

Banned
Dec 12, 2005
2,765
0
0
You can always exit 580 or 880, and go on the streets to get on to 80, not that terrible, less than a 5 mile detour.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,302
14,715
146
Originally posted by: DVK916
You can always exit 580 or 880, and go on the streets to get on to 80, not that terrible, less than a 5 mile detour.
Click to expand...

LOL! Sure sounds like you've never made this commute. A car broken down on the side of the freeway causes a half-hour back-up, THIS will be a major FUBAR event in the commute for people. I'm REALLY glad I don't commute any more.
 
A

AccruedExpenditure

Diamond Member
May 12, 2001
6,960
7
81
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: DVK916
You can always exit 580 or 880, and go on the streets to get on to 80, not that terrible, less than a 5 mile detour.
Click to expand...

LOL! Sure sounds like you've never made this commute. A car broken down on the side of the freeway causes a half-hour back-up, THIS will be a major FUBAR event in the commute for people. I'm REALLY glad I don't commute any more.
Click to expand...

I did this many times when I lived in the Berkeley/Oakland area... during rush hour it saves tons of time to go on west grand because it drops you off right at the toll plaza...
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,302
14,715
146
Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: DVK916
You can always exit 580 or 880, and go on the streets to get on to 80, not that terrible, less than a 5 mile detour.
Click to expand...

LOL! Sure sounds like you've never made this commute. A car broken down on the side of the freeway causes a half-hour back-up, THIS will be a major FUBAR event in the commute for people. I'm REALLY glad I don't commute any more.
Click to expand...

I did this many times when I lived in the Berkeley/Oakland area... during rush hour it saves tons of time to go on west grand because it drops you off right at the toll plaza...
Click to expand...

True, and if you only have a few people doing this, there can be a nice time savings as you bypass some of the back-up, but if EVERYONE is having to do this...I forsee quite a mess in the daily commute both ways.
 
A

AlienCraft

Lifer
Nov 23, 2002
10,539
0
0
This section was involved in another gas tanker accident a few years back.
Although in that one, the tanker struck the pylon, killed the driver and then took out another vehicle , iirc.
That damage could still be seen on the existing structure.

< Used to live in Emeryville @ The Watergate condos, adjacent to this mess called The Maze.
 
A

AccruedExpenditure

Diamond Member
May 12, 2001
6,960
7
81
It just dawned on me that I took this portion (80 east to 880) last night around 2:30 am with syringer on our way back from the city!

Oh noes.
 
G

gsethi

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2002
3,457
5
81
Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure
It just dawned on me that I took this portion (80 east to 880) last night around 2:30 am with syringer on our way back from the city!

Oh noes.
Click to expand...

I think you were on the other ramp.


From the maps, the damaged ones look like
80 -> 580 connector (from SF/Bay bridge to Hayward/Dublin)
and
80 -> 880 connector (from Berkeley/Vallejo to Hayward/San Jose) <<< this is going to be my daily commute from next week :(
 
Rubycon

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
126
Why did I look at the title and immediately MacArthur Park (is melting) come to mind?

Shudders - the joys (and jeers) of living in the disco era. :Q
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom