Mario Cuomo Bridge structural integrity should be investigated, NY Dem tells Buttigieg

The soundness of the Mario Cuomo Bridge north of New York City should be investigated following reports of a potential cover-up over allegedly defective bolts, a New York Democrat told Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a letter this week.

In his letter, U.S. Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., asks Buttigieg to "use your authority to open an investigation into these claims and [I] implore you to work with the New York State Department of Transportation to ensure proper inspections are conducted to assure the public of the safety of the bridge." Members of the New York Assembly's Republican conference have also called for a federal investigation of the bridge, writing to the federal Department of Transportation's inspector general earlier this week, the Times-Union of Albany reported. Their letter asked for "an immediate investigation to ensure the bridge is safe and that state officials, private contractors and others involved in the bridge’s completion acted appropriately."