The father-of-three who scaled Brisbane’s Story Bridge this morning to draw attention to his plight in the family law courts has apologised to the hundreds of motorists delayed by his stunt.

Inbound peak-hour traffic on the bridge ground to the halt, after the 31-year-old man climbed the bridge and draped banners of the structure criticising the family law courts early this morning.

The protester appears to speak to a policeman on the bridge in this photo taken at 7am. Credit:Bridie Jabour

The traffic lanes were reopened soon after the man climbed down about 7.10am, but cars were bumper to bumper for more than two kilometres from Wynnum Road down to the Story Bridge for two hours.

Congestion was also heavy on Gipps Street and Ann Street near the bridge.