Bay Bridge Westbound Lanes Close for Wreath Install
Caltrans is closing most westbound Bay Bridge lanes overnight so crews can hang the annual holiday wreath above the Yerba Buena Island tunnel.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Current Conditions
Most westbound lanes of Interstate 80 on the Bay Bridge are closed from 11 p.m. Thursday until 4 a.m. Friday, and the on-ramp from Yerba Buena and Treasure islands is shut. Detour signage and traffic control personnel are guiding motorists.
Why it matters
Drivers heading into San Francisco from the East Bay and the islands will face a detour toward Oakland and a redirect at the toll plaza during the overnight window. Commuters planning late-night or early-morning travel should allow extra time.
The closure window runs from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., and the wreath is 13 feet in diameter and weighs 300 pounds. The source does not indicate whether the schedule could change if installation runs behind.
The players
Caltrans
The California Department of Transportation is the state agency responsible for maintaining the state highway system, including the Bay Bridge.
The details
Caltrans crews are placing a 13-foot wreath weighing 300 pounds above the entrance to the Yerba Buena Island tunnel, using permanent anchors installed in 2011. Westbound traffic from Yerba Buena and Treasure islands is directed toward Oakland and redirected at the toll plaza back onto westbound lanes.
Timeline
2011: Permanent wreath anchors were installed above the tunnel.
Thursday, 11 p.m.: Westbound lane closure begins.
Friday, 4 a.m.: Westbound lane closure ends.
After the new year: The wreath is removed from its place above the tunnel.
Seasonal Patterns
The wreath hung above the Yerba Buena Island tunnel relies on permanent anchors installed in 2011, so this annual closure repeats a holiday pattern set that year. The wreath stays in place until after the new year, reinforcing the seasonal schedule.
Westbound drivers from Yerba Buena and Treasure islands should plan for a detour toward Oakland and a redirect at the toll plaza between 11 p.m. Thursday and 4 a.m. Friday. Follow the posted detour signage and directions from traffic control personnel.
The takeaway
Allow extra travel time through the Bay Bridge overnight Thursday into Friday, since the westbound detour adds distance and a toll plaza redirect. Checking road conditions before leaving can help you avoid delays during the closure window.
What happens next
The wreath remains in place until after the new year, and crews will remove it then.
Further reading
For real-time updates on road closures and conditions, see Current Conditions in San Francisco.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Local News Matters.
