A tractor-trailer caught fire near the foot of the Walt Whitman Bridge in New Jersey Monday, forcing NJ-bound drivers to come to a complete stop in the middle of the morning rush.
The truck fire took place a little before 6 a.m. on the eastbound lanes near the end of the downside. The trailer could be seen smoking as SkyForce10 hovered overhead.
Traffic quickly backed up across the span of the bridge connection South Jersey and South Philadelphia. It remained at a stop into Philadelphia more than an hour later until the drivers stuck on the bridge were allowed to use one lane to get past the truck fire after 7 p.m.
No drivers were allowed to get onto the bridge as of 7:30 a.m.
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The Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross and Commodore Barry bridges were used as alternate routes until the roadway finally reopened shortly before 8:30 a.m.
The westbound lanes toward Philadelphia remained open.
