who are going to oversee the chain cutting. they have been out here about the last half hour testing the torch. they're standing there by two canisters. there i can hear the torch. i can't see it. the lieutenant governor has been given instruction in using this hot torch. but in sorry for the pun, heat of the moment who knows. so the chain arrived just about 45 minutes ago placed there between those two stangss. this is the center stage here that is this setting

so back in 1936 when the bridge opened they went through something like this as well, with the then lieutenant governor who cut with a torch. after that event the cars got to go over open you'll be tibl see the view in both directions it's ab experience being up there up that high over our beautiful bay. so we're waiting and hoping the lieutenant governor and

other dignitaries will walk about five lanes here from the saw tooth building to this location here. and cut the chain. it's ready to go. the bridge is ready tochlgt we just need them to come to do this 6. >> let's check with abc 7 news vic lee at this afternoon's first celebration where dignitaries had a lot to say about how we got to this point. >> importantly when the bridge is open to traffic. vic? >> key note speaker just finished a spee. you can see the crowd filing out of the building. they're going talk over here cross lanes of i 80 that is

where they're going to hold the ceremony now we are waiting for some of the dignitaries to come here but he maybe is taking his own car. supervisor weiner how are you? >> good. how are you? >> what is going through your mind? >> after a quarter century it's just amazing. it's just inspirational that this beautiful bridge is going to be safe >> we're waiting for the lieutenant governor. there he s let's go, chris. how are you? >> good to see you, sir. >> i never see you out of a suit and tie. >> i know that. is what my news director says. i have to apologize. >> what goes through your snind. >> you know what goes through

my mind? any mi kids. i have two kids that are of age to notice things. and three and two and a 7 week old. every time we go across the bridge they're mesmerized. the scale and scope of these structures. >> we have to thank senator brown we see these images of the then governor. there is a prominent role it's a miracle. >> we're told that you've been practicing. >> i was late in the back. signing waivers of attorneys reviewing the waiver.

and i'm told it's ready to go. there is precedent because the governor he burned a suit so i'm not intending to do that. >> thank you very much. please, be safe. >> that is it from here vic lee abc 7 news. >> that is good stuff, tu work done inside of the tunnel connecting the new span with the old one. >> that is right. crews scrubbed away of the soot and grime ort weekend brand spanking new, it looks like now. this is what people will see. new l.e.d.lights will replace the bulbs. >> and sometime tonight this

is the view drivers will experience themselves. this shows you the view from the new eastern span of the bridge from the brij bike riders will be able to pedal along the new span naichled after alexander zuckerman. a schedule scheduled for morning to dedicate the bike path to zuckerman. >> our reporters have been tweeting out access they've been getting from the bridge. you can follow heather on twitter. >> it's an exciting time. >> big anticipation there,

leanne? >> as we said before we're going to see vintage models to more modern electric cars. they're going to take it nice and easy. sort of cruising down the new span if you will. and have option of continuing or exiting which leads to treasure island. that is where we are at the moment. we'll ask what it's like, how did it feel to cross that new span? now after crews will finish cleaning up and chp will conduct a sweep before opening the span which we know will be tonight. live from treasure island abc 7 news. >> new. >> still to come here at 5:00

fifth time was the charm for swimmer diana niaz. >> how she pulled off something that seemed out of reach and what she has

here is a live look of the eastern span. >> we're awaiting chain cutting any momtd now. you can see views from above with all folks in the fishl part of the ceremony making their way towards that chain right now. >> and abc 7 news reporter has been covering the construction process for many years and heather you as well as others probably can't believe we're that the moment.

>> yes i has a surreal feeling, dan. i must say i've gotten accustomed to being in the environment of the new bridge so this of that is worn off. seeing people coming out is exciting. process and people from the building is arriving here, every swun getting in place to watch the chain cutting. everyone is crowding up as close as they can get. and with cutting the torch that. will be hot and hard to manage if you haven't had instructions kind of dangerous phone shallly. so this is the approach.

the setting for the chain cutting you've got big lights up on flames that are pointed at the chain. this is the oakland military institute band. here that are providing the music. and it was a very limb knitted number of vips that were allowed to come to this. i've spotted the head of ntc walking in. and a limited number of opportunities still to come. and we'll come back as soon as this gets underway. back to you. >> thank you. we'll stay on top of this and bring you the chain cutting just as soon as it happens.

bart has been setting ridership records. the bart and unions are locked in a bitter contract battle right now. >> well, commuters, the unions say the possibility of strike here is real saying there haven't been any talks. >> when governor brown asked a judge to impose a 60 day cooling off, message was clear. negotiations should continue so far that hasn't happened. >> we've not been in the same building other than perhaps on other issues. >> bart ask union as agree and according to the unions first talks on the major issues, wages and health care aren't

scheduled until september 17th. >> i'm disappointed we haven't been able to come to the table before and is not for lack of trying. >> it's a 10% raise over four years with greater employee contributions to pensions. unions claim a quarter of the employees will suffer under that proposal. >> what they have in the package we end up with a negative increase, in other words losing money. >> would you? >> yes. >> a spokesperson told abc 7 news there is no scenario in which it is a pay cut. every employee stands to gain thousands of dollars. unions blame the governor calling for the cooling off. >> i don't think we need to talk about blame just about getting it done. >> negotiations are set for

next week if there is tho agreement yun yinz could strike for a second time. >> this labor day is closing day for a strip club. the lusty lady theater in north beach will close thing. dancers formed a union in n.1996 and bought the club in 2003. >> this labor day is the working holiday for president obama. he met with two leading senate republicans in a bid too gain correctional support for use of force against sear yachl the white house says there is proof syria attacked its people but saturday delaying a possible strike against syria saying he want add proveal from congress first and met with senators john mccain and lindsay gram

looking for support. >> if congress wrr to reject a prose proe poseal like this consequences would be cat strof yike tomorrow, the president will meet with chairs and ranking members including both senate and house armed services committee. >> firefighters are continuing to gain ground on the rim fire in yosemite. the fire is 60% contained having burned 231,000 acres. the fire is the fourth largest in state history grew by nine miles. fire officials say next few days offer cooler sqerj a chance to make progress. full containment not expected until september, 20th. smoke from that fire krooused

big problems for visitors to parts of gold country this, image shows how dense the smoke is. >> officials say reports of yellow jackets are up, getting about 10 calls per day. reports of stings also on the rise. to make matters worse they tend to be more aggressive in september and october. they're trying to get a handle on mosquitoes infested with west nile virus and wednesday, fogging continues will be a record 10th time that vector control will spay to kill mosquitoes. now, officials aren't sure if

interest there is an increase or if they have better detection this year. >>fordy ree calling 370 chou cars because of steering problems saying possible rusting could result in a loss of control. 2005 to 2011 ford crown victor yaz are included in this recall. most cars sold in the united states and a handful in canada. >> after 35 skbreers four fail add testimonies long distance swimmer diana nyad staggered on to the beach today after a swim from cuba. >> just remarkable and its been a lng time coming. the 64-year-old first tried in 1978 at just 28 years old.

>> teach time excaution and poisonous jelly fish forsd her out of the water, she's now the first person to swim without a shark cage, a wet suit or flippers from cuba. saying you're never too old to chase your dream autos coming up on world news at 5:00:30 we'll hear more from her after her first interview. >> spencer christian is here with the forecast. >> it's warm and muggy now. going to be hot by the end of the week. it's first week is on theway. we have high cloidz cloudz over bait area now in swogs a flow of most air from the south. thundershowers up in sacramento valley. scattered showers and more

moisture pulling up now it's light and widely scattered. here is a live view over the bay. clouds in various levels but it's still a bright late afternoon. 70 degrees in san francisco right now. 68 in half moon bay show being low clouds now. it's 80 degrees in santa rosa. and one more live view looking at bay bridge. clouds above, blue skies. some isolated showers coast to inland and turning hot by the end of the week. animation showing movement of systems. and we start our forecast

animation at 7:00 we'll see that flow continuing with a few more thin, high clouds will be warm tomorrow and resuming animation now going into thursday we're going to have a wind pattern by thursday bringing us hot conditions by then. overnight tonight mild around the bay area. some clouds around. upper 70s around the bay. and here is the accu-weather forecast. by thursday, we'll see 90 degrees inland and friday, saturday, sunday mid to upper 90s inland. and talk about beach weather and it's going to be hot. >> yes.

thank you. >> thank you. >> we're going to be back with an update on celebrations going on on, and for the new bay bridge. >> new details about samsung's smart watch.

>> any moment now the ceremony is going on two and a half hours on the bridge. >> heather? >> we're alongside the toll plaza so this is the westbound approach z over the last half hour or so people have been streaming in. among them are lieutenant governor gavin news ym. we've seen settle in torch before people got here set up, ready to go.

so we know he has to don these welding goggles. so it appears he's not quite ready to go. he's right there and looks like maybe they're going over things. and with him just a bevy politicians involved or head of all of the various agencies involved here. and steve hemmingger is here in that hat. we also saw earlier dockerty. mayors of san francisco and oakland are there.

but the one event we're waiting for now is a chain cutting. other speeches have taken place and this is a final, final here. it appears most crowds that is going to be allowed here made their way from the saw mooj tooth building soy don't know. could with soon ask we'll bring it to you live. >> thank you. we'll stay with this until that chain cutting takes place. >> yes

coming up, you're looking at live pictures of the toll plaza and when the bridge will

open. >> also, imagine if your refund got deposited into another account. the bank says sorry you're out of luck. >> search for undiscovered species a institution is encouraging college students to join in an effort to that could hold answers to more questions. >> now back to the bay bridge toll plaza where that is any moment now. >> yes. governor introun away on business so he gets the chores meaning his image will last for eternity. >> it looks like everybody is just about in position here. >> yes. that is everybody is here,

they just have been handed out these welding blofs it's hard to imagine they'll put paws on the torch to cut the chain but who knows? i asked who is going cut the chain said given there are many people here there may be a lot of hands on the he would supposedly have to be using welgd goggles. i don't know if he's going to be more stylish but use sunglasses. he's moved to the front here indicates we keep trying to

read the tea leaves of when this is going to happen. we had the oakland military institute marching band providing drumbeat for this. they were replaced by pipe music, everyone is in place. you can see them holding the chain if they don't get to cut it perhaps they'll have their hands on it. the executive director has now stepped up and addressing the crowd. welcoming everyone. he's saying that nearly 77 years ago then governor opened. >> we're going to delay -- so week bring you this. >> we want to share this with you. it's a moment in history.