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S-Curve

West Bound
(1 of 15) (9844 views)

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The lower deck of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge moves traffic west from San Francisco toward Oakland to the east. Ahead was the tunnel through Yerba Buena Island. Just beyond that tunnel was the new S-Curve. Note the early presence of warning signs.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:53:22 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115322_6409BCX
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Yerba Buena Tunnel
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Visible at at the end of the tunnel through Yerba Buena Island was the start of the S-Curve. Notice the brake lights on cars and all the warning arrows and signs ahead of them. Barely visible in the road surface were rumble strips to help slow traffic.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:53:28 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115348_6413BCX
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Sharp To The Right
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The roadway curved first to the right. Note from the ceiling how the old roadway went straight. The new Oakland side of the bridge will connect straight in when it is complete. Meanwhile this detour was necessary to allow construction to continue.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:53:56 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115356_6415BCX
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Then Turn To The Left
(4 of 15) (6337 views)

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A speed of 40 m.p.h. was clearly emblazoned on the street surface. Solid lines inhibited changing of lanes while inside the curve. Notice how far to the side this S-Curve took the road from the original bridge.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:54:10 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115410_6418BCX
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Visible Was The New Bridge
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Off the side of the S-Curve was the new bridge still under construction. Visible here were the new uprights for the island side of the new bridge. Those are built on the old straight path that the S-Curve bypassed.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:54:20 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115420_6420BCX
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Straight Before Final Curve
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The S-Curve continued straight back toward the old bridge. The final curve would be where the temporary S-Curve slpiced into the old bridge.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:54:30 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115430_6422BCX
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Final Right Turn
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The S-Curve concluded eastbound where it spliced back into the old bridge. This is were traffic began to speed back up to 55 and beyond.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:54:38 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115438_6425BCX
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New Bridge Glimpsed
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Off the S-Curve to the left a glimpse of the new bridge came into view. This was the very end of how far it had been constructed so far. Notice the massive thickness of this new bridge.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 11:54:56 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #115456_6428BCX
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West Bound S-Curve
(9 of 15) (6231 views)

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Westbound on the upper deck of the Oakland side of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge warnings appeared ahead. Signs warned to slow down for the upcoming S-Curve.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 15:30:00 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #153000_6449BCX
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Radar Speed Signs
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Radar signs flashed car speeds as traffic approached the start of the S-Curve.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 15:30:42 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #153042_6454BCX
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Arrows And Flashing Lights
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Arrows and flashing lights drew attention to the start of the S-Curve. Here on the upper deck, the first turn was to the left.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 15:31:12 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #153112_6455BCX
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The Left Turn
(12 of 15) (6262 views)

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The turn to the left was meant to be taken at 30 m.p.h. Yerba Buena Island just came into view.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 15:31:22 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #153122_6457BCX
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An Off-Ramp
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Ahead, an off-ramp appeared for traffic to exit left onto Yerba Buena Island. The offramp was part of the S-Curve and ahead of the island's tunnel.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 15:31:26 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #153126_6458BCX
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End Ahead
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The end of the S-Curve laid ahead as it turned into the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel. Left of the current traffic lane was the exit for the island. Note the matching on-ramp was at the other end of the tunnel.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 15:31:40 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #153140_6460BCX
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Entered The Tunnel
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The S-Curve westbound ended as it entered Yerba Buena Island Tunnel. Again, as the curve neared its end was where traffic began to increase speed.


Temporary S-Curve   •  Yerba Buena Island, San Francisco, California   •  (Photo posted Sunday 31 October 2010)   •  (Photo taken 15:31:48 Sunday 20 June 2010)   •  © 2010 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #153148_6462BCX
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