A smoky truck fire damaged a beam on the Queensboro Bridge Friday, forcing several parts of the bridge to stay closed, snarling traffic throughout Manhattan's east side and beyond.
The Department of Transportation said repairs to the beam and other damage would go through the weekend. Drivers are being warned to expect major delays.
Several who were traveling through Manhattan's East Side during the Friday evening rush were frustrated.
"It took me an hour and a half to get here all the way from Canal Street," complained a truck driver at a Midtown intersection, where traffic was at a near standstill. "This is ridiculous. This is crazy."
"It's been about 20 minutes a block, just sitting still," said another driver. "I've gotta go all the way to the Bronx. It's going to be a long ride."
No injuries were reported in the truck fire, and police say there's no indication of an explosion.
The FDNY said the call for the fire came in just after 11 a.m. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Local
The five-span cantilever bridge connects Manhattan and Queens and is more than 100 years old.
--Shimon Prokupecz contributed to this story
