On Monday afternoon, the historic Third Avenue Bridge, connecting Manhattan and the Bronx, got stuck open because of an intense heatwave. Built way back in 1898, the bridge's old metal parts expanded as the temperature soared to a sweltering 35°C (95°F). This caused the machinery to overheat and swell, leading to a jam.
The bridge stalled around 3 p.m., creating quite a situation. Emergency crews, including marine units, jumped into action right away. "There was a report of the bridge stuck halfway open. Marine units standing by as well as land units," officials noted. FDNY boats spent hours spraying water on the bridge, trying to cool down the metal and get it realigned with the road deck.
Aerial footage showed the extensive efforts to lower the bridge back into place. Traffic on the one-lane bridge came to a halt, leaving multiple vehicles stranded without a way into Manhattan. Fortunately, by 6:40 p.m., the bridge was reopened for traffic in both directions, much to the relief of everyone involved. Thankfully, no injuries were reported during the incident.
This marks New York’s second heatwave of the summer. The scorching temperatures didn’t just impact the bridge; they also led to a heat advisory. According to Metro, this advisory is in effect for Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Northern Queens, Staten Island, and Southern Queens Counties until 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Third Avenue Bridge heatwave incident highlights how vulnerable historic structures can be to extreme weather. It’s a reminder of the importance of maintaining and upgrading our infrastructure to handle such challenges. As climate change continues to bring more extreme weather, taking proactive steps to protect vital transportation links like the Third Avenue Bridge becomes even more crucial.
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