S.F.-Oakland bridge closed another day

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- California transportation officials said Wednesday it would be at least another day before the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge could be reopened.

The bridge -- which carries more than 280,000 vehicles each weekday -- was closed late Tuesday after high winds caused a steel crossbeam and two steel tie rods to snap and fall to the upper deck of one of its spans.

Caltrans officials said Wednesday the pieces that broke off were part of an emergency repair on the bridge, made necessary after a crack was discovered in a structural beam during the Labor Day weekend, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Officials said they expected repairs to be completed by noon Thursday.

Meantime, alternate routes between Oakland and San Francisco have been clogged with traffic and Bay Area Rapid Transit system trains have been carrying record numbers of people, the Chronicle said.