ALBANY, NY (09/11/2012)(readMedia)-- The New York State Department of Transportation has temporarily closed the Route 23 bridge over the Schoharie Creek (Prattsville Bridge) in Prattsville, Greene County, after bridge engineers found structural defects in the bridge's steel.
"The Department fully understands the inconvenience and hardship that the bridge closure will cause to the traveling public," said NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald. "Our goal is to get the bridge repaired and safely re-opened as quickly as we can."
DOT crews are conducting field analyses to determine the repair plan. A signed detour is in place, directing motorists along State Routes 23, 30 and 990V, as well as County Roads 53, 7 and 39.
This is not related to last year's damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Those storms caused washouts of the bridge's approaches and abutments necessitating closure. They did not affect the steel structure.
NYSDOT will provide updates as repairs progress.
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