Wrong warning posted in Carlsbad

Drivers on I-5 northbound may have been a little confused the morning of August 22.

Caltrans’ electronic billboard mounted on the Tamarack Ave. overcrossing displayed the message, “I-90 BAY BRIDGE WILL BE CLOSED AUG 28 TO SEPT 3.” Most of the motorists heading north probably had no idea where Interstate 90 was.

It’s in Seattle. I-90 is America’s longest interstate highway, stretching 3,020.54 miles from Seattle to Boston. Of the estimated 225,000 daily users of I-5 northbound, one had to wonder what percentage of North County drivers would be going all the up to Seattle?

The message was posted in error by a statewide alert system. The agency probably meant to use I-80, which terminates in San Francisco. However most Californians know the bridge that connects Oakland with San Francisco as just the “Bay Bridge.”

Around 1:30 p.m. the sign’s message was corrected. The sign then read,

“SF-OAK BAY BRDG CLOSURE AUG 28 TO SEPT 3.”

A spokesperson for San Diego’s District 11 Caltrans office, Cathyne Bruce-Johnson, says the message (the correct one) is being displayed all over California as the closure will have a significant impact on motorists heading to the bay area. The closure will occur over Labor Day weekend.

Last weekend, San Diego motorists survived “Darmageddon” – the closure of the 805 in the South Bay, for bridge removal. Twice now, L.A. drivers have survived their “Carmageddon” – the closure of the 405 from the Westside over to the San Fernando Valley.