San Franciscans who venture out this weekend should brace for a traffic horror show, with drivers laying on their horns or obsessively checking their navigation apps.
Such chaos may be difficult to avoid as Caltrans officials plan to shut down eastbound Interstate 80 between 17th and Fourth streets, along with the northbound and southbound ramps from Highway 101 to I-80. The closure, necessary for workers to make ongoing repairs to the freeway’s viaducts, will begin at 11 p.m. Friday night, and last through 6 a.m. Monday.
During that period, drivers heading from the Peninsula toward the Bay Bridge will come to a halt after Hospital Curve and be forced to exit at Vermont Street. The line of cars will then snake through Potrero Hill and crawl into SoMa, bypassing 1.6 miles of freeway before re-entering at Fifth Street. Caltrans has provided maps for detour routes at sfhighwayprojects.com…