BOSTON -- The inspection of the Tobin Bridge has been accelerated amid reports of concrete and rusty metal dropping from the massive structure.
The debris has not hit anyone, but it damaged boats at the Chelsea Yacht Club, which is located under the bridge. Boat owners say the debris has been falling for about two years, but recently has gotten worse.
Dan French of Londonderry, N.H., said last month a softball sized-chunk of concrete smashed his 25-foot boat's windshield.
Officials at the Massachusetts Port Authority said the bridge, which spans the Mystic River and connects Boston to points north, is structurally sound. The bridge is inspected every two years under federal guidelines and has an in-depth inspection every four years, the last one in 2004.
The metal shards are fragments from plates that were used to catch poured concrete during construction, officials said. The concrete pieces may have been attached to the fragments.
"The bridge is absolutely safe," said Joe Staub, bridge director. "It is more of a cosmetic issue."
Staub said the next in-depth inspection of the Tobin already was planned, but the recent reports of falling debris accelerated those plans.
On Wednesday, Massport crews inspected the underside of the bridge and cut off any dangling pieces. Similar inspections will continue daily until workers remove the loose fragments or nets are installed, probably within two weeks, Staub said.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Dramatic rescue on MBTA orange line Cars collide; 1 into Peabody business building Hundreds line up for H1N1 vaccine in Wellesley Fire tears through old Lawrence mill Charlestown residents trying to silence historic U.S.S. Constitution New Hampshire police seize 322,000 prescription pills
