Aug 3, 2007 7:44 am US/Eastern
How Safe Are Bridges In The Tri-State Area?
Brooklyn Bridge Fails Most Recent Inspection, Despite Vows Of Safety
by Lou Young
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
The three governors across the tri-state have called for a review of all bridges following the devastating Minnesota bridge collapse, but there is one bridge in particular causing worries: the Tappan Zee, which spans the Hudson River.
It's long been known the Tappan Zee bridge has problems. A recent report from the Federal Highway Administration points out significant deterioration to the concrete and the structural steel of the bridge. The New York State Thruway Authority says it's working to address the problem.
There's reason to be concerned about the bridges in the region, which take on a heavy load from the overload of traffic especially within New York and New Jersey.
Of 2,027 bridges in New York City, the 124-year-old Brooklyn Bridge is only one of two to fail its most recent inspection. It's got problems, but the city insists those problems do not put the public at risk.
Digg This Story!"The poor condition means there's components of the bridge. They are the approaches, and of the approach it's the bridge deck and some joints," said Lori Ardito of the New York City Department of Transportation. "Again, it is safe, but it just means that those components need to be rehabilitated."
That said, it's the older bridges that cause DOT officials the most anxiety. New Jersey's Pulaski Skyway, for example, was built in 1930 to funnel the Holland Tunnel traffic inland and would be replaced if the state could afford the billion dollar price tag.
Gov. Jon Corzine says they're keeping a close watch on it. "If there are unsafe bridges, they'll be shut down," he says.
Most bridges are physically inspected every two years unless a structural problem is identified. Many believe that's not enough protection and some experts say we should employ more electronics to sense extra wear or stress, such as technology available that enables remote monitoring of bridges.
Still, the biggest bridges in the area are often under continual maintenance. Crews were out Thursday, for example, on the Throgs Neck Bridge connecting Queens and the Bronx. In a phone conference Thursday afternoon, city DOT officials said the bridges connecting the boroughs are in the best shape in a decade.
"I want to reassure all New Yorkers that all of our bridges have been inspected in according to state and federal standards," Ardito said.
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