After hours of closures, the Hatem Bridge reopened early Saturday morning, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. Officials said they would provide gas to drivers in need; some motorists said they waited eight hours to drive over the structure that links Harford and Cecil counties via US 40 across the Susquehanna River.

As of 12:39 a.m. on Saturday, the Hatem Bridge was allowing vehicles to cross. It had first experienced issues causing it to close around 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Early Saturday morning, the bridge was in full restriction, meaning sustained winds were more than 50 mph, and tractor-trailer box combinations less than 64,000 pounds were prohibited from crossing.

In full restriction, other vehicles — including cars, pickup trucks, commercial buses, heavy-laden tractor trailers and flatbed trailers — are supposed to be allowed to cross the bridge, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority's wind policies. However, officials said that only passenger cars were granted passage at 1:15 a.m.; trucks and buses were not allowed because of the winds, transportation authorities said. Wind gusts were 52 mph and wind speeds were 38 mph on the Hatem Bridge, state transportation data showed as of 1:18 a.m.

Initially, the Hatem Bridge was closed from approximately 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. when a tree fell Friday on multiple lanes.