Extreme temperatures forced the overheated metal of the Third Avenue Bridge linking Manhattan and the Bronx to expand and become stuck for several hours on July 8, after it rotated to let a vessel pass on the Harlem River. Experts say the phenomenon will increasingly threaten to disrupt traffic across the city’s moveable bridges as heat waves become more frequent and intense due to a warming planet.

Marine crews with the Fire Department had to hose down the metal and hydraulic system of the century-old bridge to cool it down enough to get it moving again – a stark example of the less obvious consequences of climate change.

The NYC Dept. of Transportation oversees 24 moveable bridges across the five boroughs. Retrofits to mitigate heat expansion are theoretically possible but would be a costly and complicated endeavor.

Source: Crain’s New York Business

Article by Black Car News

Black Car News provides breaking news, editorial, and information to drivers, owners, and other key players in the New York City for-hire vehicle industry.

See All Articles