afternoon when Swing Bridge broke down just before rush hour.

No cars were allowed across the bridge from 3.30 p.m. -- when it broke down due to mechanical failure -- until about 5 p.m., by which time Public Works managed to temporarily fix it.

People on bikes were permitted to walk them across shortly after 3.30 p.m.

The breakdown prompted hundreds of school children and St. George's residents returning from work to abandon buses and cars and begin trekking across the bridge to get home or to night jobs.

A Police spokesman said there would be minor delays in crossing the bridge today as only single lines of traffic will be allowed to cross at a time while Public Works and mechanics from the US Navy Base continue to work on repairing it.

The spokesman said temporary traffic lights were put up last night and would be operational for most of today. He warned motorists to set out earlier than usual today if they are making time.

Police stationed at Flatt's Village, on Wilkinson Avenue and other locations yesterday afternoon warned St. George's bound motorists to turn around if they did not want to wait hours in a traffic jam.

A weary Mrs. Leanore Stovell-Smith, on her way home from work, opted to stick it out and ended up waiting in the traffic jam for an hour.

Her husband, however, decided to get out of the car and walk after about a half hour. "He had to go to cricket practice,'' she said.

Customs officer Mr. Nile Smith said he managed to find enough to occupy his one hour in the jam.

"I listened to the radio, read my newspaper, and watched all the people,'' he said.

Mr. Smith said about eight to ten St. George's-bound buses were stuck in the traffic jam.

"I've never seen a traffic jam like it,'' Mrs. Latina Basden said. "A lot of people just left their cars at Ferry Reach and walked home.'' Mrs. Basden noted that when the traffic started to move she saw several of her co-workers on their way to their evening jobs at Marriott Castle Harbour Hotel.

"I guess they were late,'' she said.

A contractor on the scene repairing the bridge said it broke down as it was closing after letting a yacht through. He said the bridge was six-inches short of fully closing.

Asked why it broke down, he replied, "Some part of it got tired.'' He said Public Works employees managed to close the gap, but it was still uneven.

Police spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Browne said it was believed the main bearing on the gear break snapped.

As of press time last night it had still not been repaired.

A Police officer on the scene estimated as many as 300 people abandoned their vehicles and walked home from Ferry Reach.

And he estimated some 150 cars were in the traffic jam at its worst point, extending past BAS on Kindley Field Road.