R.I. Checking Bridges in Inspections Program

Rhode Island transportation officials are checking the designs of 15 bridges in the state for a flaw that may have contributed to a fatal bridge collapse in Minneapolis last August, the Associated Press reported.

The review focuses on the strength of gusset plates, or steel patches that reinforce joints where steel beams come together, AP said. Federal investigators said those plates were too thin on the Minneapolis bridge.

Kazem Farhoumand, the acting chief engineer for the state Department of Transportation, said the Sakonnet River Bridge, which connects Tiverton and Portsmouth, is a top priority for inspection, AP reported. The weight limit on that bridge has been lowered because of deterioration.