Bridge, Roadway and Structure Failures

Published on: March 5, 2010

Syracuse New York Building Collapse Closes Route 81 To Prevent Car Accidents With Injuries

The New York State Department of Transportation announced last week that a portion of Route 81 within downtown Syracuse, New York, would be closed in order to prevent a car accident on Route 81.

According to Central New York building collapse attorneys Bottar Law, PLLC, an abandoned building located on the 900 block of North State Street is on the brink of structural failure. Because the building backs up to Interstate Route 81 North, if it were to collapse it may send bricks and other debris onto the roadway. Several northbound lanes of Route 81 North have been closed.

Officials at the NYSDOT stated “[w]e recognize that closing I-81 will be an inconvenience for motorists, but in the interest of public safety, we have no choice but to close the highway until this unstable building is demolished. Detours and signage will help people negotiate the alternate routes until we can be assured that I-81 is safe for travel.” The unstable building is scheduled to be demolished next week in order to avoid potential injuries arising out of a roof collapse, or compromised wall or foundation.
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Published on: May 10, 2009

Syracuse Building Collapse Adjacent to St. Jospeh’s Hospital Health Center

By Bottar Law, PLLC

A building located at the corner of North Townsend Street and Union Avenue, in downtown Syracuse, New York, collapsed today without explanation. The structure, which may have been undergoing construction or renovations, is located next door to St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center. No injuries were reported. The fire department is investigating.
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Published on: May 9, 2009

Work Zone Accidents Are Top Priority For New York State Troopers and DOT

By Bottar Law, PLLC

Highway and roadway work zones, which are the areas along many Central New York Roadways now marked by orange cones and hazard signs, are dangerous for all involved. Hundreds of car accidents occur every year in and around work zones. Many of those accidents are driver vs. driver, such as when one operator fails to slow for a work zone and rear-ends another driver. Others are driver only, such as when an operator loses control of his or her car because of construction underway at a work zone, e.g., a pavement drop off.

A handful of accidents are driver vs. construction worker, such as when a careless operator strikes a construction worker performing his or her job along the side of a roadway. Last year, there were 18 work zone related accidents – three construction workers lost their lives. A fatal work zone accident occurred in Chenango County in 2005, when a tour bus operator drove crashed the bus into a work zone and killed three construction workers.

According to the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Police, work zone accidents are avoidable if drivers pay attention. Under the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, Troopers are strictly enforcing work zone speed limits to ensure that construction workers, who are responsible for maintaining our roadways, return to their families at the end of each day. The Act increased penalties and fines for work areas throughout New York State. As few as two violations can result in a New York State license suspension.

From the New York State Department of Transportation website, please remember to slow for work zones, obey posted speed limits, maintain safe distances between you and other drivers, maintain safe distances between you and construction workers, and be courteous.
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Published on: April 27, 2009

Falling Rubble From Structure Failure Closes Syracuse Block

By Bottar Law, PLLC

A portion of the facade of The Warehouse building collapsed today, leading to the closing of West Fayette Street, from West Street to Frankling Streets, in downtown Syracuse, New York. At one point in time, The Warehouse building housed the Syracuse University School of Architecture. It now houses departments for the University’s School of Visual and Performing Arts.

The building collapse cause rubble to fall onto the sidewalk and street below. Fortunately, no Syracuse University students or any others were injured.

The block remains closed until construction workers have an opportunity to remove additional portions of the building’s southwest exterior which appear unstable. The loose exterior is approximately eighty-five feet off the ground, so laborers will have to use a lift to perform repairs to the building. According to the Syracuse Fire Department, the building failure was not structural.
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Published on: April 1, 2009

Adirondack Medical Center Reopens After Chimney Collapse

By Bottar Law, PLLC

Adirondack Medical Center, located in Saranac Lake, New York, reopened recently following a partial collapse of the hospital’s chimney, which many believed was an explosion originating in the boiler room. Following the chimney collapse, the hospital was without heat or hot water. Patients were transferred to area hospitals until repairs were complete. Fortunately, no one was injured as a result of the structural failure.
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