Aging bridge considered safety hazard by some

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The weight limit has been lowered again on a bridge with a history of problems. Now some are wondering why the state doesn't just shut it down. It's a primary thoroughfare to the Heights, but many drivers may want to find another route.

Citing safety issues, TxDOT has lowered the weight limit on the Yale Street bridge, making it barely legal for even an SUV to cross. This is a bridge well past its prime.

"First and foremost it was built in 1936," said HPD Sgt. Teresa Curry.

For the past year, Houston police truck enforcement Sgt. Curry and her team have tried to keep large 18-wheelers off the Yale Street bridge because of an 8,000 pound per axle weight limit.

She said, "They truly are past their point of longevity and it's an inherent danger to anyone, really."

But this week, another major change -- city and TxDOT engineers lowered the weight limited dramatically, to just 3,000 pounds per axle, meaning many full size SUVs and non-commercial trucks are technically over the limit.

You can check the weight of your vehicle in the sticker inside the driver's door. A Ford F-150, for example, has a front weight of 3,400, and back axle weight of 3,800, meaning the standard truck would be over the limit.

"I'm not the engineer, I'm not TxDOT," Sgt. Curry said. "I'm not in charge of how the city regulates their roads, but that would be my suggestion. & I would suggest they close it."

The city maintains the bridge is safe for the 10,000 vehicles that use it daily.

Janice Evans with the city of Houston said, "This road is heavily used by passenger vehicles and to shut it down completely would create a major traffic bottleneck on Heights Boulevard.'

The bridge is scheduled to be completely replaced by 2016, and the city has promised some immediate repairs soon. But Heights activists say, they just don't think that's going far enough.

"This particular bridge either needs to be monitored with people here at all times, or it needs to be closed," said Heights activist Jeff Jackson.

The Houston Police Department says it will monitor the bridge to the best of its ability, but it must focus on the 18-wheelers and other large trucks.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

heights, local, miya shay

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NTSB issues safety alert on NEXRADs in planes

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Every night, we use weather radar to tell you about what to expect in your neighborhood. But the National Transportation Safety Board says the weather radar used by some pilots in the cockpit may be cause some very dangerous problems.

The NTSB just issued a safety alert reminding all pilots that Next-Generation Radar or NEXRAD - a network of radars operated by the National Weather Service -- is not totally reliable. In fact, some of the data might be old and using it could be deadly.

Ask any pilot and the weather is their biggest enemy.

"It's the one unknown that's out of our control," said Capt. Brandon Ray of Western Airways in Sugar Land.

Wind, clouds, rain, they are all factors.

Last December, the NTSB believed weather played a role in a crash that killed a Georgia family over Bryan; and this week, the agency said the pilot may have relied on old weather information provided by NEXRAD before the plane came apart in the sky.

"If you focus on the NEXRAD and the NEXRAD alone, you could fly into what appears to be clear weather but it turns out to be maybe a cell that's actually moved in," Ray said.

And that's exactly what the NTSB fears happened. This new safety alert says the last images received in the cockpit from NEXRAD were six, seven and eight minutes old.

Ray took us aboard a King Air and showed us how it could happen.

"Right here NEXRAD shows that it's five minutes old," he said.

While the information shows a five-minute delay, he says the images are really a lot older.

"Five minutes is when we received the information, it's not necessarily when the weather is valid," Ray said.

So he and the rest of the pilots use a combination of live radar and NEXRAD to plan routes, not to mention experience. For those pilots without the resources of an airline, weather briefings are easily available online

It's something most pilots already know but worth an important reminder about NEXRAD's limitations before taking off into the sky.

"If it's used in the wrong way, it could be deadly," Ray said.

The NTSB says the pilot of the Bryan crash last year actually flew into a developing rainstorm. It's the second crash in the past year and half where NEXRAD was used.

And though National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ultimately oversees NEXRAD, a spokeswoman says they are not involved in this issue.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, jessica willey

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City leaders, retailers announce new partnership, 'Child Safety Starts With You'

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A new partnership to keep children safe was announced today. Houston city leaders and local retailers are behind the campaign called "Child Safety Starts With You."

Seven big retailers -- including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Fiesta, Kroger, H-E-B and Randalls -- are part of this partnership with the Houston Police Department. The intent is to prevent crime, but also to keep children safe in stores and in parking lots.

We are nearing the end of the school year and start of summer, so this program is kicking off at a good time, with law enforcement and community leaders reminding you not to ever leave your children unattended in cars, whether on or off. It's a particularly relevant reminder during Houston's hot summer months.

"Whether the car is locked or not, leaving the car running unattended can lead to disastrous results in a matter of seconds. Like the van says, don't take your chances with your precious cargo," said Asst. Chief Dan Perales with HPD.

Mayor Annise Parker and other community leaders were on hand to check out the "Heat Van," featuring a thermostat inside. And even on a milder day like today, the temperature was rising inside that van.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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local, sonia azad
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