Sep 8, 2008 12:30 am US/Eastern
Governor To Call In Outside Experts For Bay Bridge
KENT ISLAND, Md. (WJZ) ―
A truck tumbles off the Bay Bridge and flaws are found in the protective barriers. Now the governor says he'll call in outside bridge experts.
Suzanne Collins reports previous state inspections of the bridge didn't turn up the corrosion that was found.
People who drive over the Bay Bridge to get them safely to and from the shore got a jolt when they saw a truck crash off the span and into the bay Aug. 11, killing the driver. An inspection showed corrosion in the barrier wall. But the governor said this weekend that probably did not contribute to the crash.
"Even if things were in brand new mint condition, I think there's very little that could have been done that would have prevented that heavy truck at that speed from going over that rail as it did, given the physics of the accident," Governor Martin O'Malley said.
Since the corrosion has been found, emergency repairs are causing continual backups, making already nervous drivers frustrated. The governor has just decided to bring in national experts in bridge safety to do an independent review of Maryland's inspection program.
"We're just trying to take an extra measure of precaution and also to be able to assure the public that we do take the safety of our bridges and tunnels very seriously," he said.
People taking the Bay Bridge Sunday have mixed feelings about Maryland hiring outside experts.
"I know I travel back and forth a lot and I want to know when I'm going over the bridge that it's safe," said Curtis Gribble.
"Probably a waste of money. I don't really think the state has that much money to waste, personally. I feel confident with the people in the state of Maryland that have inspected it. I don't think we need to overreact," said Sherri Rider.
But the governor says the money is well spent. He wants to avoid disasters seen elsewhere, like the levees overcome in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and the Minnesota bridge collapse.
Nationally recognized experts will be recruited for the panel by the end of this month. They will review all Maryland's bridge inspections and repairs made, then give a final report in early 2009.
Maryland's current bridge inspection program goes beyond federal standards but the governor says he still wants a review by the nation's top experts.
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