Maintenance crews were on site troubleshooting the issue, WSDOT said.
SEATTLE — The northbound span of the First Avenue South Bridge closed Wednesday morning after it was stuck in the open position for nearly four hours, snarling the morning commute on Wednesday.
The bridge became stuck just before 6 a.m. due to “an unknown mechanical issue,” according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Maintenance crews and bridge technicians responded to troubleshoot the problem.
Traffic was diverted off the highway at S Holden Street (milepost 26) during the closure and the Washington State Patrol responded to help clear the vehicles stuck in the backup, Trooper Rick Johnson said.
As of 8 a.m., traffic was backed up a mile on state Route 99 and over 3 miles on state Route 509.
By 9:43 a.m., WSDOT said the bridge had reopened to traffic.
The bridge was previously closed for work to repair the bridge deck in March.
A longer closure for a permanent fix is expected later this spring, though WSDOT has not announced an exact date.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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