A major bridge that connects Manhattan to the Bronx was temporarily stuck in an open position on Monday, stalling traffic until it cooled down, according to a Department of Transportation official.
The immobility of the Third Avenue Bridge was due to heat expansion caused by high temperatures during the second citywide heat wave of the summer, officials said. Transportation Department and FDNY officials were spraying the bridge with water in an attempt to cool it down so it can reopen to traffic as soon as possible, DOT spokesperson Vincent Barone said in an email around 5 p.m.
The bridge reopened to traffic around 6:30 p.m., officials said.
Video footage posted to social media via Citizen NYC showed the bridge frozen in place.
Most of the city was under a heat advisory on Monday, with temperatures expected to remain high through 8 p.m. on Tuesday, according to officials. Parts of the area, along with New Jersey and Connecticut, were expected to top 100 degrees this week.
This week’s heat wave comes as meteorologists warn of a sweltering summer that’s expected to hit record-high temperatures on multiple occasions in the city.
High temperatures during last month’s heat wave contributed to wire and connectivity issues that stalled the NJ Transit and Amtrak. Commuters at Penn Station faced hour-long delays at the major transit hub.
This story has been updated.
