Preview: bad bridges,
dangerous dilemma

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - It turns out, Rhode Island's deteriorating roads and bridges may be more than just a nuisance. The crumbling infrastructure could jeopardize the safety of you and your family.

The Target 12 Investigators have found Fire trucks and rescue vehicles are being delayed or stopped altogether because of weight restrictions on local spans.

Fire trucks can weigh as much as 23 tons, but some of the bridges that need to be crossed in Rhode Island can only handle a fraction of that. In small towns like Foster, the bridges are everywhere, but there's no money to bring them up to code.

"Budgets are tight. I understand that. But in some cases, you're talking about serious consequences," said Lt. Charles Stockwell, South Foster Fire Department.

In fact, Response to a mill fire in Foster was slowed by the problem earlier this year.

"So that bridge really got in the way that day," Stockwell said.

One Providence bridge will be overhauled in the spring, forcing alternate routes to fires in parts of Silver Lake.

"We're taking the measures that will reduce that impact to the bare minimum," said Assistant Chief Michael Dillon, Providence Fire Department.

Fire departments have to balance longer, alternate routes with the desire to get to a fire as quickly as possible, while still taking crew safety into account.

"Sometimes you can go too fast, or not have complete alertness," said Chief Joel Jillson, North Smithfield Fire Department.

Stockwell said, "I've gotten to a bridge with the truck and had to make a choice. Do I cross the bridge and risk it, or do I turn around?"

Wednesday on Eyewitness News at 11:00, we'll show what local departments are trying to do to keep you safe despite the fact that more than half the state's bridges are deficient.