The Gwynn’s Island bridge was closed for about four hours Sunday afternoon to vehicular traffic; boats will be unable to pass through The Narrows until at least the weekend.

VDOT Saluda Residency administrator Sean Trapani said that the shaft used to swing the bridge open broke just after noon Sunday while the bridge was in the open position.

The Mathews County Sheriff’s Office alerted residents of the malfunction through its CodeRed Alert System. The initial message was sent out at 4 p.m. notifying residents that the bridge was stuck open and another message was sent out about 30 minutes later notifying residents the bridge had been closed, and was reopened to cars and trucks.

Trapani said two private boat owners volunteered to use their vessels to pull the bridge shut. "It is locked now and open to (vehicular) traffic," he said. "However, it cannot open to river traffic."

According to Trapani, he sent all of his crews to the bridge Sunday upon learning of its ma...