The heavy traffic that plagued morning commuters over the Bay Bridge on Tuesday morning was likely related to post-holiday crowds, and not the new alignment on the span.

Motorists travelling from the East Bay to San Francisco experienced slower-than-normal conditions on Interstate-80 and other approaches to the Bay Bridge on the first regular workday since the span was closed for a major construction project. The bridge was shuttered from Friday evening until Sunday evening while crews shifted westbound lanes near the span’s toll plaza.

However, Officer Kevin Bartlett of the California Highway Patrol said the new alignment didn’t play a role in Tuesday’s congestion. Traffic is usually more intense on the day after a long weekend, Bartlett said.

“It was probably just holiday traffic,” said Bartlett. “We also think there was a little SNAFU with the metering lights. We don’t think it had anything to with the alignment.”

The weekend closure on the span was necessary to have the rebuilt and rehabilitated bridge opened entirely by late 2013, possibly following Labor Day Weekend.

wreisman@sfexaminer.com