Drawbridge glitch stalls I-280 traffic

6/30/2002

Traffic was backed up for more than 20 minutes last night at the Craig Memorial Bridge which carries I-280 over the Maumee River after the bridge failed to lock in the down position after it was lifted to let a pleasure boat pass, authorities said.

The schooner Red Witch cleared the bridge about 9:10 p.m. About that time, the bridge was lowered but failed to close properly because the center locks that hold the two parts of the bridge together malfunctioned, said Joe Rutherford, an Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman.

The bridge was raised again and then lowered as part of a standard procedure to re-engage the locks after a malfunction. It worked and at 9:32 p.m. the bridge closed properly and traffic was allowed to cross the bridge, Mr. Rutherford said.

The 77-foot schooner is based in Port Clinton. It is used for cruises on the Maumee River and into the bay.