The tragic bridge collapse accident in Minnesota is bringing attention to other bridges across the nation. In NYC, Gov. Eliot Spitzer Thursday ordered stepped-up inspections of 49 similar bridges in the state. “Eight of them are in New York City — the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Queensboro Bridge, Marine Parkway Bridge, 145th Street Bridge, West 207th Street Bridge and bridges on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Major Deegan Expressway.” The city and state transportation authorities are dismissing the possibility of a similar tragedy in NYC. From Newsday.com:

“If we think a bridge is ready to collapse we close it and you can’t use it,” said Carol Breen, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation. “We have experts — we pay them to worry about our bridges.
….
the 124-year-old Brooklyn Bridge and two pedestrian spans — are rated poor by the state and city. The Brooklyn Bridge’s rating stems from problems with some joints and the deck of ramps leading to the span, according to Lori Ardito, a first deputy commissioner for the city Department of Transportation.

I hope they’re worrying much more, since “it’s too hard to monitor all those bridges with greater frequency.” A National Historic Landmark, the Brooklyn Bridge carries about 132,000 vehicles a day, and many more pedestrian commuters and tourists each day.

{In Ways Large and Small, Many Bridges Meet Definition of ‘Deficient’, NYTimes}
{Safety woes span NY bridges, Newsday.com}