Caltrans shut down lanes on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on Monday for an emergency repair that set off a major traffic jam during the afternoon commute.

Caltrans said maintenance crews on Monday morning discovered “unsound, spalling concrete” of the eastbound upper deck near pier No. 25, which is closer to the Marin County side of the span. Spalling is when the concrete breaks apart.

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Caltrans closed the No. 2 lane on the westbound upper deck and the No. 2 and No. 3 lanes on the eastbound lower deck.

The No. 1 lane in each direction remained open.

“It was a 3-inch spall, that spalled all the way through. You could actually see it from the lower deck,” said Bart Ney, spokesperson for the agency. “We haven’t found any chunks, but there is some powder, so certainly som

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