The new Bay Bridge troll, after eight months in seclusion, has finally settled into a satisfactory home on the new eastern span.

The troll, crafted of steel, is slim, stands upright and clutches a sledgehammer. He made a brief appearance at a Labor Day ceremony dedicating the bridge then was spirited away to an undisclosed location while his protectors searched for a suitable permanent home out of direct sunlight — something trolls reportedly cannot abide.

The new troll replaces one installed on the old eastern span in the wake of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. That troll was removed before the old bridge’s dismantling began.

The new troll emerged from hiding Friday and quietly moved in, settling on Pier E2. That also happens to be the location of the broken bolts that marred the opening of the bridge and brought the integrity of the self-anchored suspension span and its long-term maintenance needs into question.

It should be noted that The Chronicle suggested that very location in a Sept. 8 story on the mysteries enveloping the two trolls.

Victor Gauthier, a bridge spokesman, said he wasn’t sure why the location was chosen. But since the traditional job of trolls is to oversee and protect bridges, we can guess his home was strategically selected to ensure the longevity and safety of the $6.4 billion span.

“It is somewhat hidden from view,” Gauthier said. “It’s visible from the water and somewhat visible from the bike path. But it’s not visible from the westbound lanes or eastbound lanes. We want to make sure people know it is not visible from the traffic lanes.”

In other words, there’s nothing to see here, motorists — keep your eyes on the road.

The original troll was created by artists at the suggestion of steelworkers repairing the slab of the old span that collapsed during the earthquake, killing one driver. He watched over the repairs successfully for 24 years before retiring.

After two months in seclusion, the original troll — we won’t call him old — was a star at the Oakland Museum of California for four months. His current whereabouts are unknown, though he’s rumored to be residing in the Caltrans headquarters in downtown Oakland.

“I wish I could tell you,” Gauthier said. “There’s mystery around that.”