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Safety Recommendation Details

Safety Recommendation H-88-019
Details
Synopsis: ON APRIL 5, 1987, TWO SPANS OF A 540-FOOT-LONG NEW YORK STATE THRUWAY (I-90) BRIDGE OVER THE SCHOHARIE CREEK FELL ABOUT 80 FEET INTO THE RAIN-SWOLLEN CREEK AFTER PIER 3, WHICH PARTIALLY SUPPORTED THE SPANS, COLLAPSED. NINETY MINUTES AFTER THE INITIAL COLLAPSE, PIER 2 AND A THIRD SPAN COLLAPSED. FOUR PASSENGER CARS AND ONE TRACTOR-SEMITRAILER PLUNGED INTO THE CREEK, AND 10 PERSONS WERE FATALLY INJURED. WATER LEVELS IN THE CREEK HAD BEEN RISING SINCE THE AFTER NOON OF APRIL 4 AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAD ISSUED WARNINGS OF FLOODING IN THE LOW-LYING AREAS ADJACENT TO THE CREEK.
Recommendation: THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION: COMPEL, BY WITHHOLDING FEDERAL FUNDS IF NECESSARY, THE OWNERS OF ALL PUBLIC BRIDGES INCLUDING THOSE NOT OWNED BY THE STATES, TO COMPLY WITH THE NATIONAL BRIDGE INSPECTION STANDARDS.
Original recommendation transmittal letter: PDF
Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Mode: Highway
Location: Amsterdam, NY, United States
Is Reiterated: No
Is Hazmat: No
Is NPRM: No
Accident #: DCA87MH005
Accident Reports: Collapse of New York Thruway (I-90) Bridge over the Schoharie Creek
Report #: HAR-88-02
Accident Date: 4/5/1987
Issue Date: 6/8/1988
Date Closed: 11/21/1990
Addressee(s) and Addressee Status: FHWA (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Keyword(s):

Safety Recommendation History
From: FHWA
To: NTSB
Date: 12/10/1990
Response:
From: NTSB
To: FHWA
Date: 11/21/1990
Response:
From: FHWA
To: NTSB
Date: 1/9/1989
Response: SINCE 5/14/85, FEDERAL-AID PROJECT APPROVALS HAVE BEEN WITHHELD IN MORE THAN 450 POLICIAL ENTITIES FOR LACK OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE NBIS. THE FHWA POLICY IS STILL IN EFFECT & ADDITIONAL PROJECT APPROVALS WILL BE WITHHELD IN THE FUTURE FOR ANY JURISDICTIONS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH NBIS INCLUDING LOAD POSTING, FREQUENCY, UNDERWATER INSPECTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS OF INSPECTORS AND THE LIKE.
From: FHWA
To: NTSB
Date: 8/17/1988
Response: SINCE 5/14/85, FEDERAL-AID PROJECT APPROVALS HAVE BEEN WITHHELD IN MORE THAN 450 POLITICAL ENTITIES FOR LACK OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL BRIDGE INSPECTION STANDARDS. THE MAJORITY OF THESE HAVE BEEN FOR LOAD POSTING NONCOMPLIANCE, BUT FOR ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF THE JURISDICTIONS WHERE FEDERAL-AID PROJECT APPROVALS WERE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED, THE SAME JURISDICTIONS WERE ALSO NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREQUENCY OF INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS. THE FHWA POLICY IS STILL IN EFFECT & ADDITIONAL PROJECT APPROVALS WILL BE WITHHELD IN THE FUTURE FOR ANY JURISDICTIONS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL BRIDGE INSPECTION STANDARDS.