[PHOTOS] Here's What Happened During This Weekend's Golden Gate Closure

Traffic resumed on the Golden Gate Bridge Monday morning, after an unprecedented major weekend closure, which seemingly went of without any major issues.

The bridge reopened Sunday night, more than six hours ahead of schedule, after crews installed a moveable concrete and metal barrier, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District officials said.

Golden Gate District Spokeswoman Priya Clemens said the bridge reopened at 9:30 p.m., six and a half hours early. It had been closed since midnight Friday night and was scheduled to reopen at 4 a.m. Monday.

The now-installed 11,500-foot, $30 million barrier is intended to prevent head-on collisions and ease traffic congestion, and will work in a way similar to the plastic pylons that have been used on the bridge since 1962.

During the closure, crews installed more than 3,500 individual units, each weighing 1,500 pounds that are pinned together to form a chain.

“Zipper trucks” will shift the barrier to create the appropriate lane configuration, which will continue in their usual pattern, Clemens said in a statement.

In addition to installing the metal and concrete barrier this weekend, crews modified the merge in the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 101 on the Waldo grade, from the Waldo Tunnel approaching the bridge, Clemens said. Drivers will now merge right to left, instead of left to right.

The speed limit has also been lowered from 55 miles per hour to 45 miles per hour.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

(All images courtesy: Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District)