DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge malfunctions due to heat, leading to major traffic jam

Major traffic was building on DuSable Lake Shore Drive Wednesday afternoon in both directions after a bridge malfunctioned due to the heat.

The Chicago Office of Emergency Management posted about incident just after 11 a.m., saying the Lake Shore Drive Bridge at Grand was stuck in the “up” position. About 30 minutes later, the Chicago Department of Transportation said the DSLD bridge experienced a “heat-related issue” during a scheduled lift, preventing it from fully closing.

“Crews are making the necessary adjustments to safely close the bridge and reopen the roadway as quickly as possible,” CDOT said.

The incident comes as a heat advisory continues for the entire Chicago area through Wednesday night, with heat index levels expected between 100 and 110 degrees.

Photos and video showed what the scene looked like from different angles.

According to CDOT, iron workers were at the scene trying to move it down. Firefighters will also be arriving to hose the bridge in an attempt to cool it down, CDOT said.

Total Traffic & Weather Network reported DuSable Lake Shore Drive was closed in both directions, between Monroe Drive and Grand Avenue, and between Chicago Avenue and Wacker Drive. Traffic in both directions was heavy and backing up.

This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.

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