Tue December 27, 2005 - Northeast Edition
Mary S. Yamin-Garone
Imagine steering your car onto an 85-ft. high exit ramp when suddenly it looks different. It appears to be “out.” Before you know it, you feel the road disappear beneath the wheels of your vehicle. It feels like the towering highway is collapsing as you begin driving over the ruptured lane. Suddenly, your car loses power after lunging over a 2-ft. drop. One section of the span has come loose and is wedged perilously against the edge of a tall, concrete pier. Your headlights go dark. Your radio goes silent.
That was what happened to a motorist traveling on the northbound lane of an access ramp that links Albany, NY’s, Interstate 787 to the Dunn Memorial Bridge on July 27. Thankfully, that motorist became the one and only traveler to drive over the shattered roadway before authorities were notified.