Drivers in Trafford were left stuck in long queues during the evening rush hour after a bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal got 'stuck'.
Traffic was unable to pass over the Centenary Bridge, which crosses the canal from Trafford Park over to Eccles in Salford on Wednesday evening.
It was 'stuck in the open position', according to Transport Greater Manchester (TFGM). The bridge around two hours later.
Long queues built on Centenary Way and surrounding roads, backing up into the heart of Trafford Park.
The bridge is so named as it opened in 1994, 100 years after the opening of the Ship Canal in 1894.
Unlike most of the other bridges which cross it using a swing mechanism, the Centenary Bridge is a lift bridge and is designed to lift its road traffic surface to allow large ships to pass underneath it.
One motorist said on social media that it opened for a ship, but the barriers didn't then re-open 'causing chaos'.
Police were at the scene to manage the road closure.
The bridge is maintained by Peel Ports, which manages the ship canal.
The Manchester Evening News has contacted Peel for comment.
Another driver said: "Epic fail, Centenary Bridge is broke and I'm stuck in the middle of all the traffic, not getting home soon."
He said he had been stuck in a jam for over an hour and a half.
TfGM alerted people to the issue at 4:45pm saying on Twitter:m "A576 Centenary Way blocked due to the lift bridge reportedly stuck in the open position.
"Congestion on Centenary Way, Tenax Road, Guinness Road and Ashburton Road West through Trafford Park. "
The Manc Traffic twitter account said there was "heavy congestion" in the area with traffic service Inrix saying traffic was "building through Trafford Park."
