Oh, and the accident was caused by a construction crew working on the bridge:
Shortly after 1 p.m., a boon truck driven by a MTA Bridges and Tunnels contractor struck an overhead sign on the Queensbound (southbound) plaza of the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge near the Queens anchorage, according to the MTA.Traffic may be rerouted to the other open bridges: the Throgs Neck and the RFK Triborough Bridge, but that doesn't mean that there isn't going to be a huge traffic headache.
The impact took down the sign and the gantry -- the metal system that supports signs -- blocking all five lanes (three southbound and two Bronx-bound lanes, and closing the bridge in both directions.
The truck, which has a crane attached to the back, was driving near the Queens anchorage when it struck the sign.
Two contractors suffered minor injuries and were taken to New York City Hospital of Queens.
A peek at the traffic cameras throughout the Bronx and Queens tells the tale. Good luck getting home tonight if you're trying to go between the Bronx and Queens. Traffic is building all over the place, and the delays are going to be horrific through the rush hour as traffic is being rerouted away from the closed bridge.
Headline HT to jcm at lgf.
UPDATE:
The bridge serves over 100,000 vehicles daily, and I don't expect the bridge to be closed more than a few hours longer. They need to bring in cranes and other equipment to remove the gantry and signs, but the road and supporting structures don't appear to be damaged.
Traffic is being rerouted, but that's not going to make the commute any easier. Traffic is also backing up along the Cross Bronx and onto the GWB. Similarly, traffic is backing up on the Cross Island Parkway through Queens, and is going to make for a miserable rush hour commute.
UPDATE:
UPDATE:
The bridge reopened to traffic at 7pm, but the damage was done for the rush hour.
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