Residents of the city’s Long Island Homeless Shelter will have a new place to sleep Wednesday night.

The shelter was evacuated after inspectors found the bridge connecting the isle to the mainland was in need of immediate repairs. Residents who were staying at the shelter will temporarily stay at the South End Fitness Center.

WCVB reports that police responded to the bridge around 3:50 p.m. to enforce the closure, though it’s not clear why the bridge had to be shut down so quickly. Representatives with the Boston Public Health Commission did not immediately reply to requests for comment Wednesday night, though WBZ reports that “structural integrity concerns’’ are the cause.


The shelter, run by the health commission, has over 400 beds available and serves the homeless all year, though it’s not known how many people were transferred from the facility on Wednesday.

A person answering phones at the South End Fitness Center, also owned by the health commission, confirmed the gym will indefinitely house those evacuated from the shelter.