It’s so hot in New York City a major bridge got stuck open
A bridge that connects Manhattan to the Bronx got stuck on the hottest day of 2024 so far in New York City.
Built in 1898, the Third Avenue Bridge crosses the Harlem River, and serves as the link between the two boroughs.
Temperatures hit 35°C on Monday, reportedly resulting in the metal machinery to overheat and swell.
This meant that the 2,800ft-long bridge could not move from the ‘open’ position for hours.
When workers tried to move it, it failed to line up with the locking mechanism on the Manhattan side of the span, CBS News reported.
Traffic was halted on the one-lane structure, leaving multiple vehicles without any option to cross into Manhattan.
Footage taken from a helicopter shows firefighters pumping gallons of water onto the construction in an effort to cool it down.
The closure of the bridge caused major traffic delays in the South Bronx along the Major Deegan Expressway, with delays continuing into Monday night.
Extreme weather around the world
Wherever we look, extreme weather is having a catastrophic impact on people – whether that is affecting nature, or the way they live.
Greece and Cyprus have been battling wildfires in the last month, only worsened by temperatures reaching 40°C.
This has forced the evacuations of hundreds of homes across the two countries.
In Saudi Arabia, more than 1,300 people have died during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Most of those were unauthorised pilgrims who walked long distances in the intense 50°C heatwave.
Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, is currently enduring days of temperatures above 40°C. This has only been worsened by electricity cuts and high humidity.
It was late on yesterday when the machinery was finally cooled off and the Third Avenue Bridge resumed operations.
This is New York’s second heatwave this summer, and Tuesday is expected to feel even hotter due to the humidity.
Forecasters said the extreme temperatures and humidity would likely persist for several more days.
A heat advisory is currently in effect for Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Northern Queens, Staten Island, and Southern Queens Counties until 8pm on Wednesday.
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