Urgent warning for 9 NYC-area bridges in Baltimore collapse report
Urgent warning for NYC bridges after Baltimore collapse
Federal investigators issued urgent recommendations for several bridges in the NYC area after a year-long investigation into the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. FOX 5 NY's Briella Tomassetti has the details.
NEW YORK - Nine NYC-area bridges, including the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge, could be at significant risk of collapse from a ship strike like the one that led to the deadly demise of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to a new report.
Federal investigators with the National Transportation Board found that Maryland Transportation Authority failed to complete a recommended vulnerability assessment, which would have shown the Francis Scott Key was almost 30 times worse than the acceptable risk threshold.
In the report released Thursday, the board also issued urgent recommendations and a report that lists 30 owners of 68 bridges across 19 states.
Baltimore bridge collapses after cargo ship crash
A container ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore, causing the span to buckle into the river below. The collapse plunged a construction crew into the dangerously cold waters. Rescuers pulled out two people, but six others were missing and presumed dead.
Which NYC area bridges are at risk of collapse?
Local perspective:
These New York and New Jersey bridges "have an unknown level of risk of collapse from a vessel collision," according to the NTSB.
New Jersey
- Commodore Barry Bridge - Chester, Pennsylvania / Bridgeport, New Jersey
- Vincent R. Casciano (Newark Bay) Bridge - Newark Bay, New Jersey
New York
- Verrazano Narrows Bridge - Staten Island / Brooklyn, New York
- Brooklyn Bridge - New York City, New York
- Manhattan Bridge - New York City, New York
- Williamsburg Bridge - New York City, New York
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of New York's most famous landmarks and attracts millions of tourists every year. (Photo by Christina Horsten/picture alliance via Getty Images)
- Newburgh-Beacon Bridge - Newburgh / Beacon, New York
- Rip Van Winkle Bridge - Catskill / Hudson, New York
- Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge - Ogdensburg, New York / Prescott, Ontario, Canada
- George Washington Bridge - New York City, New York / Fort Lee, New Jersey
- Outerbridge Crossing Bridge - Perth Amboy, New Jersey / Staten Island, New York
- Seaway International Bridge - Massena, New York / Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
- Thousand Islands Bridge - Alexandria Bay, New York / Ontario, Canada
What makes these bridges vulnerable?
Dig deeper:
In 1991, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials published guidance on how to calculate bridge vulnerability assessments.
All bridges designed afterward were required to be evaluated, and in 2009, the group reiterated its recommendation to also conduct assessments for older bridges.
A MAXAR satellite image shows the Dali containership after crashing into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland on March 26, 2024. (Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies)
The 68 bridges listed in the NTSB report are "frequented by ocean-going vessels," were constructed before the AASHTO guidance was issued and have not undergone an assessment.
Therefore, the level of risk is unknown and bridge owners are "likely unaware of their bridges’ risk of catastrophic collapse from a vessel collision and the potential need to implement countermeasures to reduce the bridges’ vulnerability."
What they're saying:
At a media briefing Thursday, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy urged these bridge owners to complete their assessment as her board has "been sounding the alarm on this since the tragedy occurred."
"There’s no excuse," she said.
"We need action. Public safety depends on it," she added.
The backstory:
Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after a massive cargo ship, the Dali, lost power and veered off course, striking one of its support piers. Six construction workers were killed.
The board update comes almost a year after the bridge collapse, which temporarily halted ship traffic through the Port of Baltimore and snarled traffic across the region. Plans to rebuild the bridge are underway and officials have said the new design will be much better protected.
What's next:
There is no set timeline for these inspections. If and when they happen, traffic should not be impacted.
The Source: This article uses information from the NTBS report referenced and the Associated Press.