Senate OKs Limits on Freeway Closures
The Senate passed, 21-8, and sent to the Assembly on Tuesday a bill that would prohibit the state Department of Transportation from shutting down a freeway for such activities as a “jogathon” or foot race.
Sen. Quentin L. Kopp (I-San Francisco) said his bill was aimed at preventing a repetition of a controversy in October in which the eastbound upper deck of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was closed to motorists for five hours during a footrace for charity.
The bill would allow the department to close at least one direction of a freeway for emergencies, maintenance, construction or when a “reasonable alternative” route is available to drivers.
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