CHICAGO (WLS) — Extreme heat is being blamed for a major bridge malfunction downtown after the DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge became stuck in the raised position, triggering hours of traffic backups for thousands of drivers, Chicago officials said.
By Wednesday evening, the Chicago Department of Transportation said crews were also responding to another heat-related problem, this time at the Torrence Avenue Bridge on the city’s Far South Side.
The bridge troubles came as a Heat Advisory was in place for parts of the Chicago area from noon until 9 p.m. Wednesday. A separate heat advisory is also set to remain in effect for portions of the region until 9 p.m. Thursday.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
CDOT said the DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge was lifted around 10 a.m. to allow a cruise boat to pass, but afterward crews were unable to lower it back into place. Officials said the intense heat caused “thermal expansion” in bridge components, preventing the span from returning to its normal position.
The shutdown left drivers stuck on one of Chicago’s busiest routes, including Tomas Rodriguez, who said he spent more than an hour sitting in traffic north of the bridge.
“Big inconvenience, and I’m sure a lot of other people felt that way. I can only imagine what parents must have felt if they had kids in the car or toddlers,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said the delay disrupted his workday.
“It was very inconvenient. I did not make my meeting this morning,” he said.
In an effort to resolve the problem, the Chicago Fire Department used lake water to cool the bridge. However, the water temperature was in the mid-70s.
“This is, uh, very interesting. I haven’t seen this like this before,” one cyclist said.
READ MORE: Suspect Facing Eviction Kills Two in Apartment Shooting
Traffic on DuSable Lake Shore Drive reopened after the closure lasted about four and a half hours.
CDOT said it was required to raise the bridge after receiving a properly submitted request from the Spirit of Chicago cruise line.
How to stay cool in Chicago area amid rising temperatures this summer: LIST
The incident has prompted calls for policy changes. Ald. Brian Hopkins, who serves on the City Council’s transportation committee, said he wants to amend city code to give CDOT’s commissioner greater authority to deny bridge lift requests during periods of extreme heat.
“We really have to do a better job balancing the needs of watercraft, which under federal maritime law do have priority, but you can’t shut down a whole city because of it,” Hopkins said.
The bridge’s condition has also drawn renewed attention. Last year, the ABC7 I-Team reported that the DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge was one of 10 Chicago River bridges identified in federal data and inspection reports as needing high-priority repairs. A 2024 IDOT inspection report detailed “moderate to heavy corrosion,” although it remains unclear whether that played any role in the latest mishap.
Hopkins said the bridge requires significant investment but does not present an immediate safety concern.
“It’s really not in a condition that we can rest easy. It’s not unsafe, either, but it is due for a major overhaul,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins also said CDOT crews had to be especially careful not to add strain to the bridge because of its condition, a factor he said may have contributed to the length of the closure.
Cook County Radar | DuPage County Radar | Will County Radar | Lake County Radar (IL) | Kane County Radar | Northwest Indiana Radar
READ ALSO | Chicago’s race to repair iconic river bridges leading to last-minute closures, traffic headaches
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.