According to a Special Task Force, that is. Councilman John C. Liu, chair of the city Transportation Committee, remains skeptical Here’s a press release from Agnes Kim, who works with Liu.

Dear Friends,

Here’s a news report about the status of our bridges.  Council Member
John Liu has called for intensified efforts to inspect and upgrade
these critical transportation links.  Take a look!

Agnes Kim
Office of Council Member John C. Liu

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS: "N.Y.’s cracked bridges called safe" – 12/27/2007
<http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/12/27/2007-12-27_nys_cracked_bridges_called_safe-1.html>

EXCERPT – Despite finding cracked beams, deteriorating concrete and
missing bolts on 20 of the state’s 49 deck truss bridges, a special
task force has deemed them all "safe" to traverse.

Gov. Spitzer ordered the inspections of the state’s deck truss bridges
following the August collapse of the Interstate 35 bridge in
Minneapolis that killed 13 people. The state has more than 17,000
smaller bridges that were not included in the task force’s report.

Eighteen bridges, including Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Kosciuszko
bridges received "yellow flags" for problems that could become
critical flaws if not addressed. The Brooklyn Bridge’s two yellow
flags were for decaying steel beams. Inspectors also found
deteriorating concrete under the bridge’s deck and a rip in the net
that catches debris.

City Councilman John Liu, chair of the city Transportation Committee,
expressed confidence in the thoroughness of the inspections, but
stressed that constant vigilance is needed.

"There’s no reason to scream fire, but there’s no room for complacency
either," Liu, a Queens pol, said. "Every bridge is considered ‘safe’
until it falls and kills people."