Immediately following the start of major deck replacement on the Whitestone Bridge, the MTA announced it would begin to enforce restrictions prohibiting trucks over 80,000 pounds from crossing the span. The rule has existed for years but was not enforced. It will remain in force after work is completed in summer, 2006. When asked why authorities would now enforce the rule, Frank Pascual, MTA Bridges & Tunnels spokesman, said the agency had “started to see more and more large trucks; it was starting to become a traffic safety issue” and could become a source of bridge damage in the future.  The change appears to be a testament to the surging number of big rigs plying NYC’s and the region’s highways and streets, a trend that is not being met by any clear or coordinated policy response. The MTA is directing heavy trucks to the Throgs Neck Bridge, which has wider lanes.  

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