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Tower Bridge construction expected to last until March

Right now, traffic is down to one lane in each direction, but weekend closures are expected in order to properly fix the bridge sooner than later.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — "You can't think of Sacramento without thinking about this bridge,” Dennis Keaton, Caltrans District 3 Public Information Officer, said.

The Tower Bridge is one of Sacramento's most famous landmarks. And after standing strong for more than 80 years, the bridge needs repairs.

"From the beginning of the Tower Bridge to the end of the bridge the Tower Bridge is the shortest highway of all of California," Keaton said. "If it does not meet the standards, we are going to have to replace that part."

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The original $5.8 million construction project started in September 2018 with the goal to replace cables, chains and links by December 2018. After an inspection, it was determined more work needed to be done with the bearings inside the bridge, extending the traffic delays until March of this year.

"The parts are taken off the bridge and being tested at a lab location in Sacramento,” Keaton said.

Right now, traffic is down to one lane in each direction, but weekend closures are expected in order to properly fix the bridge sooner than later. Road closures mean slow traffic in the area; if you take this route frequently, consider taking the I Street Bridge or I-80 to avoid some of the delays.

But this is just a small price to pay for one of the biggest landmarks in our state capital.
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