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 »

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Man rescued from Lake Houston after falling off bridge

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Authorities want to know what a man was trying to do when he fell off a bridge into Lake Houston.

Firefighters say the 24-year-old man was on the McKay Bridge last night when he somehow fell off. He hit some rocks before falling into the water.

Firefighters had to come out and lift the victim out of the water. He's in critical condition.

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

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Woman's body found under bridge in Pasadena

PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- Police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found Sunday under a bridge on the banks of Vince Bayou in Pasadena.

According to officials, the female body was discovered by a passer-by sometime before 11am at South Shaver and Queens. That civilian then apparently flagged down and alerted a nearby police officer.

Authorities have not released the woman's name, but they say it looks like she may have been murdered.

A spokesperson for the Pasadena Police Department said the woman was nude and was severely beaten, specifically around the face, and she may have ben sexually assaulted. They describe her also as a Latina in her mid-30s.

"It's someone's child, daughter, sister," nearby resident Jaime Almaguer said. "We live in a cruel world right now."

From Almaguer's front door you can see the spot where the body was found, but no one at his home saw or heard anything suspicious.

"Everybody was celebrating New Year's with their gunshots, stuff like that, but nothing that was out of the ususal," he said.

Police say they found identification on the body and have tenatively identified the victim as a Pasadena resident. They have also talked to a man who they say is her husband.

Investigators aren't saying if she was killed at the site or just dumped there.

The scene is immediately adjacent to Pasadena Fire Department Station No. 4. It's a volunteer fire station and no one was there overnight, but police hope one of the surveillance cameras outside the fire station might give them images to help catch the killer.

If you have information that may help investigators, call Pasadena police or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Please stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com as we continue to follow this developing story.

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

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Heights Wal-Mart traffic may threaten bridge integrity

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- People in The Heights want an 80-year-old bridge repaired, especially with the potential for heavy traffic moving in with new construction.

The Yale Street Bridge over White Oak Bayou surrounds a proposed Wal-Mart store. Heights residents gathered Saturday to voice their concerns.

"We're really disappointed in our city officials at this point," said Viula Torgerson with the Responsible Urban Development for Houston organization.

Torgerson and her neighbors are protesting to call attention to the bridge, which is just south of Interstate 10.

They say it's only designed to hold 40,000 pounds -- not built to withstand the weight of 18 wheelers, school buses and heavy construction trucks all passing at the same time.

"You put two or three full 18 wheelers on here and this bridge is going down, and someone's going to die," Heights resident Graeme Mardon said.

With a new Wal-Mart being built around the corner and the chance of additional development, these residents are demanding the bridge be fixed before any groundbreakings.

"Once they start this development, it'll be harder and harder to stop," ------------ said.

In addition, the city is adding a nearby stop light, which residents say will create more idling on the already shoddy bridge.

"There's going to be a massive increase of traffic, in particular 18 wheelers," ---- said.

Trucks could be redirected through neighborhood streets -- including Heights Blvd. -- instead of Yale. This is an idea cyclists are putting the brakes on.

"I just want it safe," Cheryl Hensley said.

The proposed Wal-Mart has been a magnet for controversy even before the bridge concerns. Some neighbors feel the store would bring unwanted traffic and hurt the quality of life in The Heights, but supporters say Wal-Mart will bring jobs.

The developer has already bought more land around the proposed Wal-Mart to build other stores.

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