New York's Bridges
August 2nd, 2007
Given that the New York City Department of Transportation maintains 787 bridges, the collapse of the bridge across the Mississippi in Minneapolis raised immediate concerns here.
A 2006 report on the state of the citys bridges by the transportation department listed only three in poor conditionthe lowest number since at least 1997: the Brooklyn Bridge; a pedestrian bridge over the FDR Drive in Manhattan, and a bridge at in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. According to the City Room, city officials called reporters today to reassure them. The poor rating for the Brooklyn Bridge means that theres only components of the bridge that are in poor condition, Lori Ardito, first deputy commissioner at the transportation department reportedly said. Theyre actually the ramps leading to the bridge not the span of the bridge. She said the city planned no special action in response to the Minnesota disaster but noted the Brooklyn Bridge is slated for reconstruction work starting in 2010.
To add to our unease, Gothamist points out the East River Bridges carry far more traffic than the Minneapolis bridge not counting the subways that rumble over some of our bridges and are a lot older.
And on the state level, State Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Thomas Libous is calling for more money to be spent on bridge and road repairs, telling Gannett News Service, Maybe this tragedy (in Minneapolis) is going to open the eyes of some of my colleagues reluctant to spend the money. A 2003, a report by civil engineers found 37 percent of bridges in the state were considered “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete.” Today, state inspectors were reportedly out in force checking out the spans. Similarly New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, apparently not quite so sanguine as New York City officials, ordered inspectors to examine all of the more than 6,000 bridges in his state.
Several commentators see a link between the bridge collapse in Minnesota and last months steam pipe explosion in Midtown Manhattan: aging infrastructure. What all politicians must do is put aside the bickering and blame on the infrastructure issue since every one of them has a responsibility to help reduce the damage, writes the Tygrrrr Express.
By Gail Robinson on August 2, 2007, 4:36 pmIn category: Albany, Gotham City, Transportation | 1 Comment »


August 3rd, 2007 at 1:45 am
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