Major Lane Closures on Bay Bridge and 19th Avenue Lead Wednesday Commuter Delays

Morning Commute Overview

Commuters navigating San Francisco this Wednesday, January 28, 2026, should prepare for significant delays on major arteries and specific public transit lines. While the early morning rush began with typical congestion levels, ongoing rehabilitation projects on the Bay Bridge and long-term utility work on city surface streets are expected to prolong travel times throughout the day. Transit riders on the Muni and BART systems should also account for localized maintenance schedules that may impact timing and boarding locations.

Major Freeway and Bridge Alerts

The most significant impact to cross-bay travel today involves the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. As part of the ongoing Western Span Joint Rehabilitation Project, Caltrans has scheduled a daytime lane closure on the Eastbound I-80. Lane 1, approaching the Yerba Buena Island Tunnel, is slated for closure until approximately 2:00 p.m. this afternoon. This follows a series of overnight closures on both Eastbound and Westbound spans that concluded at 7:00 a.m. today.

On the Peninsula side, US-101 and I-280 are seeing heavy volume through the Hospital Curve, exacerbated by ongoing striping and signage projects. While most lanes remain open during the peak morning hours, drivers are advised to maintain caution as crews continue work on the US-101 rehabilitation project, which involves storm drainage improvements and bridge inspections near the Central Freeway interchange.

Public Transit: Muni, BART, and Caltrain

Public transport users face several specific alerts today. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has issued the following updates for Muni riders:

• 38 Geary & 38R Geary Rapid: Several bus stops along Geary Boulevard have been temporarily relocated due to active construction. Riders are advised to look for orange signage indicating the nearest boarding points.
• Cable Car Service: While the Powell Hyde line has resumed regular service following a recent clearance, residual delays are possible throughout the morning as service intervals are normalized.
• BART: Passengers traveling between Millbrae and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) should be aware of 30-minute delays starting after 9:00 p.m. tonight. This is part of the ongoing train control modernization work scheduled through the summer.
• Caltrain: A technical issue has left the elevator at the Bayshore Station out of service. Passengers requiring ADA access are encouraged to plan for alternate boarding at the South San Francisco or 22nd Street stations.

Roadworks and Surface Street Impacts

Within the city, 19th Avenue (SR-1) remains a primary area of concern. Although the major concrete parking strip work has reached a milestone, Caltrans is currently performing critical electrical inspections. Commuters should expect intermittent lane shifts between Lincoln Way and Holloway Avenue. Additionally, downtown traffic congestion near the I-80 Eastbound on-ramps is causing secondary delays for Muni lines operating on Mission and Market streets. Commuters are encouraged to utilize real-time tracking apps to monitor live bus and train arrivals.