Malfunction Shuts Down Roosevelt Island Bridge

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Roosevelt Island Bridge was shut down late Friday after getting stuck.

The lift bridge, which is the only way off the island by car, goes up and down. As Dan Rice reported from Chopper 2, the bridge appeared to be down, but crews could not get it locked.

Thus, traffic had to be kept off the bridge. Traffic on 36th Avenue heading toward the bridge in Queens was halted at Vernon Boulevard beginning during the 5 p.m. hour.

But the bigger problem was that everyone was being held on the Roosevelt Island side, and no one could get off the island as long as the bridge was closed.

The bridge reopened during the 8 p.m. hour, but residual traffic delays were expected to persist.