Wrightsville Beach drawbridge still over-heating

It is the third day in a row crews have had to spray the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge down to cool it off.

Transportation officials say the extreme temperatures caused the bridge to swell, and expand making it harder to open and close.

In addition to spraying the bridge, crews lined it with fire hoses filled with cold water.

Fire chief Frank Smith said this hasn’t happened in the 21 years he has been working in Wrightsville Beach.

“I haven’t seen this particular scenario before. Over the years we have had to assist DOT with other bridge problems when they’ve asked us to do so, but I haven’t seen this particular problem with the bridge expanding from the heat,” said Smith.

DOT tells us that the same thing has happened to the Surf City swing bridge.

Cooling it with water is a quick fix, but DOT is looking to find a more permanent solution.