Heat in the 90s on Friday afternoon caused the Route 223 bridge over Milford Haven to Gwynn’s Island to be stuck open for a while.

It was open before 5:30 p.m., and remained closed to marine traffic until after 7 p.m.

The Virginia Department of Transportation said the bridge became stuck in the open position due to expanding steel in high temperatures.

VDOT and Mathews fire crews pumped water on the bridge’s steel grid deck to cool its temperature allowing the bridge to be forced closed. According to a VDOT release, pumping equipment is staged at the bridge for a rapid response. This problem has happened repeatedly in summer months in recent years.
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