SF Bay Bridge is getting a makeover this Labor Day weekend as crews working on all things construction on the bridge. A “much more picturesque ride” awaits motorists in San Francisco on Tuesday, but say goodbye to the old East Span.

The SF Bay Bridge was closed for a long weekend starting Wednesday at 8 p.m. and crews have already been well into construction and is to reopen on schedule, Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 5 a.m.

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The New East Span provides a side-by-side configuration and will allow for panoramic views of the San Francisco bay and the East Bay hills. The new East Span is nothing like it used to be, according to the California Transportation Commission. Drivers are reminded to keep their eyes on the road, and let their passengers enjoy the new views. The improvements to the new East Span estimated cost is $6.416 billion, paid for by the toll revenues collected on state-owned bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area. The goal of the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee is to replace the entire original East Span, and demolishing the damaged original due to substantial damage caused by 7.1 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.

On the West Span crews are repairing light fixtures, cleaning, painting the cable and make other cosmetic changes.

The SF Bay Bridge was closed over Labor Day weekends in 2006, 2007, and 2009. Labor day weekend provides “light traffic on the bridge” according to California Department of Transportation. The elaborate scheduling has extended the project, due to the fact that the traffic must keep moving.

This phase is the final stage of the series to open up the new East Span. Other than traffic being “sluggish” Thursday during the morning commute, all seems to be going well, while construction pushes through.

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All Photos courtesy of baybridgeinfo.org