CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (KRON) — A massive fire ripping through the NuStar facility in Crockett Tuesday afternoon has shut down a major highway in the East Bay.
Interstate 80 was shut down in both directions approaching the Carquinez Bridge on the Contra Costa County side and remains closed at this time.
The shutdown is expected to last until at least midnight, according to CHP Contra Costa.
The eastbound lanes of I-80 are closed at Willow Avenue in Hercules.
The westbound lanes of I-80 are closed at Pomona Street.
“Well, I live in Crockett. Unfortunately, I cannot make it home. Highway 80 as we know is closed. Cummings Skyway, last I checked was closed. I tried to go the back way to Martinez out through Castro Ranch Road and that is the biggest traffic jam in the world. I tried Ranch and Pinole Valley Road so I came into Pinole to try to eat. Can’t get passed Shay Drive. That’s a mess and its a mess to get up to Fitzgerald. What usually would be a 10-minute drive took me over an hour,” says a driver, Tanisha Brown.
Both directions of Highway 4 leading to the Carquinez Bridge are also closed.
The CHP is asking drivers to plan ahead and look for alternative routes.
They suggest using eastbound Hwy 4 to the Benicia Bridge or eastbound Hwy 4 to State Route 160 in Antioch.
East Bay commuters can also use I-580 into Tracy.
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The shutdown of I-80 is expected to impact traffic on city streets in places like San Rafael.
The San Francisco Bay Ferry line from San Francisco to Vallejo is experiencing heavier crowds than usual.
They are warning riders to expect large crowds.
Check back for updates on this developing story
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