The old section will be moved north to make room for the 3,600t connector, which will tie in the bridge to a detour just south of the existing span.

Tests were carried out last month to familiarise crews with this weekend's operations such as the installation of new expansion joints for the new section. Providing the four new expansion joints includes fitting 20 steel plates of up to 9t.

The replacement of the Bay Bridge's east span is scheduled for completion in 2013. It is part of California's seismic retrofit programme.