Assemblyman Dave McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) and members of the Assembly Minority Conference have called for a federal investigation into the structural integrity of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge after a recent report raised questions about the state’s oversight of the bridge and its inquiry into safety complaints. The lawmakers sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general requesting 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.

“The deficiencies of the Mario Cuomo Bridge, as outlined by the Times Union exposé, are not only an extreme danger to public safety, they also serve as a microcosm for the lack of transparency and accountability exhibited by the government,” said McDonough. “Nothing is ever the way it seems with the Cuomo Administration. I have deep concerns about the timetable in which this project was completed and the bridge’s structural integrity.

“The investigation into the fraudulent activities surrounding the construction and alleged shortcuts demands unbiased and thorough attention. Further, experts suggest the bridge is likely to deteriorate faster as more bolts break. State officials have been aware of the deficiencies for years and have failed to act on it, neglecting to publicly release the conclusions of the state’s findings and essentially waiting for a disaster to occur. I have written to the U.S. Department of Transportation inspector general to further investigate the defects of the bridge and the manner in which it was constructed.”

The letter is attached.