Finally Fixed: Downtown Joliet Bridge Was Shut Down 5 Hours

JOLIET, IL - Around 12:45 a.m. Thursday, the police barricades set up on Cass Street were removed and east side traffic was being allowed to safely pass through the Cass Street Bridge to get to the west side of Joliet. The downtown bridge had been closed for nearly five hours on Wednesday night after the bridge tender was unable to get both sides of the mechanical bridge to come down properly around 8 p.m. Barring the unexpected, the bridge should be fine for Thursday morning commuter traffic.

Original Patch story is below

The Cass Street Bridge, the one-way bridge over the Des Plaines River near Harrah's Casino, is now stuck in an upright position, which is causing traffic to be rerouted around downtown Joliet on Wednesday night. The bridge failed to go down around 8 p.m. after it opened to let a barge pass. As of 9 p.m, repair crews from the Illinois Department of Transportation were on the scene attempting to repair the bridge. One section remains stuck upright and won't go down.

Joliet community activist Bob Hernandez was in the area and Hernandez snapped several photos and furnished them to the Joliet Patch. Meanwhile, the Joliet Police Department has blocked off the intersection, forcing motorists trying to get to the west side of Joliet to have to use one of the other bridges instead.

As of 10:07 p.m. the bridge remained stuck, Patch was notified.

As of 11:08 p.m, two electricians and at least one mechanic is on the scene. The bridges are being tested.

Images via Bob Hernandez for Joliet Patch