Signs of progress on Richmond-San Rafael third lane

Starting Tuesday, drivers traveling east on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge between Marin and Contra Costa counties are advised to ignore the green arrows and red Xs on the overhead electronic signs on the lower deck of the bridge, transportation officials said.

According to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the arrows and Xs on the overhead signs will appear periodically in various configurations and are for testing that will take place for the next several weeks.

The testing is to prepare for the opening of a third eastbound traffic lane on the bridge between San Rafael and Richmond in April. During the testing period, only the two left lanes will be open to traffic.

The new third lane is being created from an existing shoulder. It will stretch from the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard on-ramp in San Rafael to the Richmond Parkway/Point Richmond exit in Richmond, MTC officials said.

The new lane will ease traffic during heavily-congested traffic hours, typically each day from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.