Updated

Authorities say a piece of metal on a seam popped on a bridge connecting New York to New Jersey, flattening tires on about 20 cars and closing two lanes of traffic.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the finger joint popped up Tuesday night on the inbound upper level of the George Washington Bridge, which spans the Hudson River.

The joint allows the bridge's roadways to contract and expand in hot and cold weather.

The agency says crews fixed the problem by 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. It is investigating what caused the joint to pop.

More than 100 million vehicles cross the bridge every year.

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