A major bridge in downtown Chicago was stuck in the raised position for more than four hours on Wednesday after extreme heat caused its components to expand.
The DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge, which crosses the Chicago River at Grand Avenue, was lifted around 10 a.m. to allow a boat to pass but could not fully close afterwards.
According to the Chicago Department of Transportation, high temperatures caused the bridge components to expand, preventing the two sections from coming together.
City crews, assisted by the Chicago Fire Department, made adjustments to cool the bridge and eventually lowered it shortly before 2:30 p.m.
The incident caused significant traffic congestion in downtown Chicago as motorists were forced to seek alternative routes amid a wave of extreme heat affecting the city.
