BART weekend closures to start in April

Passengers at the Coliseum station await a southbound train Wednesday March 18, 2015. BART officials announced a major track repair project between the Fruitvale and Coliseum stations beginning in early April. Passengers at the Coliseum station await a southbound train Wednesday March 18, 2015. BART officials announced a major track repair project between the Fruitvale and Coliseum stations beginning in early April. Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close BART weekend closures to start in April 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

BART riders may have grown accustomed to delays, but they need to steel themselves for complete weekend shutdowns between the Coliseum and Fruitvale stations starting next month.

Months of planned weekend shutdowns between the stations to perform critical track repairs start April 5 and will continue into the summer. With a replacement bus bridge to replace the trains, trips could be anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour longer.

BART officials said Wednesday that they will halt service between the two East Oakland stations for as many as 11 weekends, forcing passengers to take the bus connection between the 2½ miles between the stations.

The transit system is taking the unusual step of shutting down the elevated stretch of track to replace decaying wooden rail ties and worn rail that have forced the transit system to slow trains through the area.

“We understand this is going to inconvenience some people,” said Paul Oversier, BART’s assistant general manager for operations. “But it is absolutely essential that we complete this work as soon as possible.”

During the weekend closures, BART crews will replace 1,000 battered and weather-beaten wooden ties, 2,000 cushioning pads, 3,000 feet of worn rail and four switches at a location known as an interlocking — a rail arrangement that allows trains to switch tracks and steer around broken-down trains or change directions.

Old track replaced

The track components being replaced were installed about 45 years ago when BART was built, Oversier said. In January, BART officials reduced the speed through the section from 80 mph to 50 mph for safety. If the tracks are not replaced, he said, even slower speeds would be required.

Because the ties are set into concrete, it will take considerable work to tear out and replace them, Oversier said. BART will send about 40 workers at a time onto the tracks along with two truckloads of tools. Nine support vehicles will be stationed nearby.

Tamar Allen, BART’s acting chief engineer, said the agency looked at ways of doing the work while continuing to run trains but it couldn’t be done. When the job is finished, she said, trains will be able to return to full speed, the ride should be smoother and the switches more reliable.

“Passengers should notice the difference,” she said.

They will certainly notice the shutdowns, which will start at 7 p.m. on some days and last all day on others. About 75,000 passengers a day will be affected, Oversier said.

Free bus bridge

While the tracks are being repaired, AC Transit will run the free bus bridge service using its larger articulated buses, which have 52 seats. But since BART trains will deliver as many as 600 passengers every 20 minutes, riders should anticipate a wait.

In addition to advising patience, BART officials also took the unusual step of suggesting that some riders, particularly those on the Dublin/Pleasanton line, should get in their cars and drive to a station that won’t require the bus ride.

“This should be considered a lifeline-type service for people who have no alternative,” Oversier said. “We strongly encourage people to use alternative transportation.”

The Oakland Airport Connector that runs between the Coliseum Station and Oakland International Airport will operate on a regular schedule during the closures.

Schedule may change

BART has issued a tentative schedule that includes nine closures ranging from one to three days (over Memorial Day weekend). The April dates are set, said BART spokesman Jim Allison, but future dates may change according to scheduled events and progress on the track work.

Oversier said the work was scheduled around Oakland A’s home stands and other big events likely to draw crowds of riders to BART, including the Pride Parade and the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco.

Passengers interviewed aboard BART Wednesday weren’t thrilled by the news. Alondra Felix, 19, makes occasional weekend trips from the Coliseum Station to San Francisco State University.

“It sounds like quite a hassle,” she said. “I would probably just change my plans.”

Oversier said passengers should be prepared for similar shutdowns as the transit agency gets serious about repairing its aging infrastructure. Similar work may be needed at West Oakland, San Leandro and Lafayette.

“This is just the first of many,” he said. “There is definitely more of this to come.”

Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan

Closure dates

BART will shut down service for important track work between the Coliseum and Fruitvale stations on several weekends between April and August, requiring riders to take a bus connection. Here is a tentative schedule. Updated information will be available at www.bart.gov.

April 5: All day Sunday

April 18-19: Saturday after 7 p.m.; all day Sunday

May 9-10: Saturday after 7 p.m.; all day Sunday

May 23-25: All day Saturday, Sunday and Monday

June 5-7: Friday after 7 p.m.; all day Saturday and Sunday

June 13-14: Saturday after 7 p.m.; all day Sunday

July 11-12: Saturday after 7 p.m.; all day Sunday

July 18-19: Saturday after 7 p.m.; all day Sunday

Aug. 15-16: Saturday after 7 p.m.; all day Sunday

Source: BART