Washington State Patrol troopers have closed both Tacoma Narrows bridges this afternoon because of large ice chunks falling onto the bridge deck.

It’s not immediately clear when drivers will be allowed back across the two spans.

Trooper Guy Gill reports that the state Department of Transportation will be doing an assessment of the bridges. Once that is done, crews will have an idea of when the bridges will reopen.

The State Patrol decided to close the bridges shortly before noon after receiving several reports from drivers whose cars had been hit or nearly hit by large pieces of falling ice.

One caller reported that a ice chunk about eight feet long had come down.

Even though no injuries have been reported, troopers decided to close the bridges.

“We are just not going to take the chance,” Gill said. “We are going to err on the side of caution.”

The bridges are socked in by fog, right now.

“There is just so much ice built up on the bridge,” Gill said. “It is coming apart in huge pieces and it can cause some serious damage.”

The westbound Narrows Bridge was last closed for ice on Dec. 27, 1996.

Read more here: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/traffic/2012/01/20/wsp-closing-both-tacoma-narrows-bridges/#storylink=cpy