As Doyle Drive carries its last cars before being demolished this weekend, motorists traveling between the Bay Area’s northern counties and San Francisco are preparing for gridlock.
But the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has a message for those hoping to avoid traffic while still reaching their destination.
Take the ferry.
The district is doubling its ferry services from both Sausalito and Larkspur on Saturday and Sunday to carry the masses venturing to San Francisco for one of several major events planned for this weekend, including Giants home games and a beer festival at Fort Mason.
Golden Gate Ferry will operate 50 trips on Saturday and Sunday between Sausalito and San Francisco, instead of its normal 24 trips, and 27 trips each day from Larkspur to the city, 11 more than the normal 16 trips.
“The ferry really offers the most flexibility this weekend,” district spokeswoman Mary Currie said.
Although reservations for the Giants Ferry service between Larkspur and the ballpark are sold out during the closure, Currie said that baseball fans can still take the other ferries and walk or transfer to San Francisco Municipal Railway service.
Landlubbers can opt to take Golden Gate Transit bus service, as routes 70, 80 and 101 will continue to operate, albeit with some service changes.
“There should be a way for anyone to get the city that needs to,” Currie said.
Route 101 will use the Richmond and Bay Bridges to reach San Francisco, and routes 70 and 80 will travel over the Golden Gate Bridge, with shuttles carrying passengers between city locations, as there will be no Golden Gate Transit service along Van Ness Avenue or Lombard, Howard or Folsom streets.
The Golden Gate Transit buses are not the only ones that will be affected by the closure.
Muni buses that normally operate on Doyle Drive–including the 28-19th Avenue and 91-Owl–will be affected by detours, with those routes operating on Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard between Lombard and Fillmore streets and Park Presidio and Geary Boulevard.
Muni’s 76-Marin Headlands bus will not operate during the closure.
Doyle drive will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, allowing crews to demolish the existing structure and transfer traffic onto a new bridge, tunnel and temporary roadway, which will be in place until the approach’s replacement, the Presidio Parkway, is completed in 2015.
Those who must drive are encouraged to carpool, allow extra travel time and use recommended detour routes, which can be found here.
Throughout the closure, motorists and public transit riders can call 511 or visit 511.org to find current traffic conditions.
Patricia Decker, Bay City News
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