Overview
- The DuSable Lake Shore Drive bridge became stuck in the raised position for more than four hours during a scheduled lift on Sept. 2, 2026 and was reopened to traffic shortly before 2:30 p.m.
- City crews and the Chicago Fire Department cooled the span by spraying water and made mechanical adjustments that allowed the bridge leaves to close and lock back into place.
- Hours after the DLSD incident, the Torrence Avenue bascule bridge over the Calumet River also experienced a heat-related jam and was returned to service before early evening.
- Illinois Department of Transportation inspection records from September 2024 classified the DLSD bridge as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete, rating the superstructure in poor condition and calling for high‑priority correction.
- CDOT says federal navigation rules required the scheduled opening, the agency plans targeted repairs on the DLSD span later this year, and experts urge sensors, revised operating rules for extreme heat, and major funding to reduce future heat-driven disruptions.