This happened last Friday and caused total chaos for thousands, the bridge was shut for half the day, 30 mile tail backs each way.
If you look closely he actually pushed the central barrier two lanes into the eastbound side and closed that down.
I was loading for my homeward bound load and got a message on peoplenet to say the bridge was closed and to use the GWB, when I left I checked on the map and the GWB and all approaching routes were red, so stopped, I chose to head up I-87 but then went east on 287 to 684 north, then 84 west to Newburgh, it took about 45 minutes longer than 87 and about 60 miles extra.