Infra
Over the extreme heat? So is this New York bridge. Watch as it gets stuck amid hot temps
Hot temps in New York make crucial bridge malfunction
The Third Avenue Bridge stuck open when its steel expanded, locking it in that position due to excessive heat.
A bridge in New York literally couldn’t take the heat and stopped working as temperatures soared Monday, stopping just short of three digits.
The Third Avenue Bridge connecting the Bronx and Manhattan was shut down Monday after it got stuck halfway open due to overheating machinery, the Fire Department of New York said.
Marine units with the department were called to water down the hydraulics around 2:45 p.m. Monday, the FDNY said, with the operation going on until almost 6:45 p.m. The bridge was closed for all traffic during this time.
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Firefighters worked to cool off the overheated bridge
Video footage from the incident shows the 126-year-old swing bridge halfway open as boats spray water on it in an attempt to cool it down. NY Daily News reported that the bridge had been opened around 2:45 p.m. to let a ship sail down the Harlem River, but was later unable to go back in place due to heat expansion of steel.
No injuries were reported, FDNY said.
A heat advisory was issued Monday after New York recorded the year’s hottest temperature at 95 degrees Monday. The advisory will remain in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.