The online applications’ shortfalls are not always known to out-of-state truckers. They’ll often use navigation systems like Waze or Google Maps, applications that provide them with the most direct routes but don’t alert them to low bridges or some parkways where commercial vehicles aren’t allowed. The bridge also must be inspected to ensure the integrity of its structure before the road is reopened.ĭrivers that hit bridges in New York are typically not from the state, according to Kendra Hems, president of the Trucking Association of New York. “I’ve got a ringside seat.”Įach crash can close Glenridge Road for about three to four hours to clear the damaged vehicle and any debris. “It sounds like a big can opener being peeled back times one hundred,” said Connie Cartwright, another neighbor whose home is closest to the bridge. Bridges in New York City, Hempstead, New Rochelle, Rye and Oysterbay endure the most collisions. The crashes with low bridges happen most often on the Hutchinson Parkway, followed by the Southern and Northern State Parkways on Long Island, according to the data. The Times Union analyzed 10 years of data on bridge collisions from the Department of Transportation and the Thruway Authority. But their data are the best window available into where bridge collisions are happening most often in the state. The Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority collect information on collisions with bridges from a variety of sources and their data may reflect an undercount of incidents in some cases, according to state officials. Bridges that are deemed unsafe are closed.” “The state also requires all highway bridges to be inspected at least every two years, if not sooner, and is one of the few states in the nation that requires bridge inspection teams to be headed by licensed professional engineers who have undergone specialized training. Bridges are inspected after every reported collision,” Morrissey said. “The New York State Department of Transportation has one of the most comprehensive and rigorous bridge inspection programs in the nation. Nevertheless, the Department said New York’s bridges are safe because they are regularly inspected. The department has so far completed one of those projects. Cuomo and smaller amounts from the Department of Transportation - to undertake eight projects that officials say will reduce the state’s bridge strike count. The state set aside nearly $30 million - $25 million from a 2019 initiative started by former Gov. Other costs associated with the crashes can be the expense to send emergency services to the sites, especially in places where the strikes are a constant reoccurrence. When renovations hit the multi-million dollar mark, it’s more than likely that taxpayers will end up shouldering much of the load. Though she couldn’t provide an example of when that has occurred. In some cases, an insurance company may cover a portion of the repairs, according to Janet Ruiz, director of strategic communications at the Insurance Information Institute. If repairs are needed for a bridge, then a town, county or state transportation agency may front the costs. The Thruway Authority has spent a part of its $319 million bridge capital budget addressing crashes. The state Department of Transportation has spent $42 million in recent years to repair bridges after strikes and prevent hits. Most of the low bridges are owned by the state. The crashes have caused injuries, chemical spills and traffic jams. “Increased awareness of the issue has also led to more comprehensive reporting.” “The increased frequency of bridge strikes is likely caused by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the growing use of non-commercial GPS systems and changes in traffic flow and driver behavior since the pandemic,” said Joseph Morrissey, spokesman for the New York Department of Transportation. Last year, trucks and other vehicles smashed into overpass bridges in New York at least 344 times - more than any other year in the previous decade, according to data collected by the state Department of Transportation and the Thruway Authority.Ĭollisions with bridges have been on the rise since 2016 in New York, which is home to some of the lowest bridges in the country. The wreck occurred on April 14, 2021, a date that had originally been a cause for celebration: It was Gizzi’s birthday.īut his unlucky mishap was not unique.
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