What's the real story on Yale Street Bridge safety in Houston, Texas? | DENENA | POINTS
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What’s the real story on Yale Street Bridge safety in Houston, Texas?

Yale_Street_Bridge_over_White_Oak_BayouOur Houston injury attorneys have been reading recently about the weight limit reduction that TxDOT imposed for the Yale Street Bridge in Houston, Texas. The bridge forms a critical component in the city’s traffic infrastructure. It links our I-10 artery, 610, and points south. Construction isn’t expected to begin on a replacement for the Yale Street Bridge until 2016. TxDOT says the current bridge is still safe.

TxDOT has just reduced the weight limit on the bridge to 3,000 pounds per single axle. TxDOT also imposed a maximum weight limit of 6,000 pounds. Some SUVs and pickup trucks weigh more than 6,000 pounds, so the reduced weight limit essentially says that commercial truck traffic must find another route. But is there one really?

The Director of Responsible Urban Development for Houston noted that the previous weight limit on the bridge had been violated several times per hour. He expects the new, reduced weight limit to be violated several times every few minutes. (Source: khou.com, 9/28/12)

Houston police have already begun to enforce the new weight restrictions. But if violations really occur so frequently, the HPD won’t catch everybody. They won’t even catch a high percentage of violators at the estimated violation rate. On the other hand, our Houston injury attorneys are hopeful that fines from the violators the police do catch should help sock away some funds to repair or replace the Yale Street Bridge.

In the coming weeks, Houston has said it will be performing some low-cost repairs with an eye to stabilizing the bridge so that the weight limit can be increased again to amore realistic level. In the meantime, should you take the Yale Street Bridge, try to make your way across in the presence of as little traffic, and weight, as possible.

Learn what to do in the event of a truck accident injury. Download our Houston injury attorneys’ free book with a click on this web page. The free guide outlines the steps you need to take to protect your rights and make a successful financial recovery following an unfortunate accident that has injured you.