Commuters faced a fiery nightmare Tuesday evening as a car blaze inside the Caldecott Tunnel led to the shutdown of its eastbound second bore, snarling traffic well into the night. The situation unfurled around the ripple of rush hour at 5:10 p.m., when a hit-and-run incident on Eastbound Highway 24, near the Fish Ranch Road off-ramp, sent authorities scrambling to the scene, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Fortunately, the California Highway Patrol reported no injuries from the chaos that followed.
For weary drivers, the tunnel's closure stretched nearly an hour post the incident, with vehicular currents being diverted to the tunnel's other eastbound bore, causing significant hold-ups on Highway 24. In a bid to temper the transportation tumult, Caltrans District 4, in a social media dispatch, sounded the horn for motorists to brace for delays and encouraged alternative routes, their X post serving as a beacon of guidance amidst the gridlock. The Caltrans Quickmap was also offered as a resource for those seeking to navigate the burgeoning backlog of cars.
The ripple effects of a single car engulfed in flames within the left bore were felt across the Bay Area road map as traffic backed up from Highway 13 through the evening. Caltrans District 4 continuously updated its traffic advisories on X, ensuring that motorists were informed of the latest developments. By 5:20 p.m., their updated alert indicated that the left bore remained closed and traffic had now congested back to Claremont in Oakland. In contrast, all westbound bores remained open, albeit heavily jammed from the Orinda exit, per a post from Caltrans District 4.
Motorists are advised to expect delays and plan an alternate route. EB State Route 24 at #CaldecottTunnel #2 bore remains closed due to car fire. For live traffic conditions go to Caltrans Quickmap🔗https://t.co/cipKtcceGE https://t.co/GlyjOM6MTQ
— Caltrans District 4 (@CaltransD4) December 27, 2023
