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OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - Emergency repairs on a massive pothole on southbound I-880 in Oakland were finally completed at around 10:15 p.m. Friday. The pothole snarled traffic for several hours in an area south of I-980 and was discovered nearly 12 hours earlier at around 11:30 a.m.
California Highway Patrol had issued a severe traffic alert as the 4 by 3-foot pothole shut down the freeway's three left lanes.%INLINE%
CHP Oakland issued an update at 3:36 p.m. to say that California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) would maintain a hard closure of lanes 1 through 3 until about 7 p.m., but the problem persisted as crews worked throughout the night to make emergency repairs.
"Several cars drove through that scene prior to CHP arriving there and probably suffered some damage," said CHP Sgt. Adam Barresi.
Motorists experienced delays and had to use alternate routes to avoid the area.
In the interim, tractor trailers were allowed to use eastbound I-580 as an alternate route.
Caltrans spokesperson Lindsey Hart said maintenance crews were filling the pothole. She said they appreciated everyone's patience as repairs were made.
Later in the evening, Caltrans followed up with another apology on Twitter where they included a link to a form for motorists to submit and file a damage claim for $10,000 or less.
As of 9:10 p.m., Caltrans said the emergency repairs were nearly complete, but it would be more than an hour before the roadway would finally reopen completely to traffic.
Skyfox flew overhead during the evening commute and saw the massive, gaping hole in the roadway. Commuters could be seen sitting in the traffic snarl, backed up to Emeryville as it stretched for miles.
Large pothole snarls traffic during evening commute in Oakland: