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Popular downtown Chicago bridge stuck in up position due to heat

City crews and firefighters cooled the span after heat expanded its components and blocked a scheduled lift from closing, officials said.

  • On Wednesday, the DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge over the Chicago River became stuck in the "up" position following a 10 a.m. scheduled lift, snarling traffic on the major highway.
  • Extreme heat caused steel bridge components to expand, preventing the two bridge leaves from fully closing, according to Erica Schroeder, a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Transportation.
  • A Chicago Fire Department fireboat sprayed water across the 200-foot steel span to cool the metal, while police redirected Downtown traffic after the malfunction caused significant backups.
  • After crews completed adjustments, the bridge lowered and reopened to traffic shortly before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Schroeder.
  • Chicago remains under a heat advisory through Wednesday night, with the National Weather Service forecasting "feels like" temperatures as high as 105 degrees.
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A pedestrian bridge in Chicago, USA, remained suspended for over four hours after being opened to allow ships to pass through. However, extreme heat caused the steel to expand, preventing it from closing. Authorities had to use fireboats to spray water to help reduce the heat.

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Chicago River bridge gets stuck after lifting for boat to pass

A major bridge over the Chicago River got stuck for more than four hours Wednesday after it lifted up to allow a boat to pass, snarling traffic in Chicago's downtown.

·New York, United States
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WGN 9WGN 9
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WHNT 19 NewsWHNT 19 News
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Popular downtown Chicago bridge stuck in up position due to heat

Crews even tried spraying the bridge with water in an apparent attempt to cool it down.

·Chicago, United States
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NBC Chicago broke the news in Chicago, United States on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
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