Is the Peace Bridge safe?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The New York State Department of Transportation has come under fire Tuesday.

The State Comptroller is questioning the safety and management of bridges, right here in Buffalo.

An audit by the state comptroller is very critical of the State Department of Transportation's handling of deficient bridges.

Specifically, Thomas DiNapoli says the DOT did not address about 34% of serious highway bridge defects within the required time frame.

In a separate report, the comptroller singled out the Peace Bridge, here in Buffalo.

He says the international crossing was rated lower than the Lake Champlain Bridge, by the DOT in 2009.

>> See list of bridges with ratings lower than the Lake Champlain Bridge.

The Champlain Bridge was abruptly shutdown and demolished last month.

News 4 spoke with the comptroller by Tuesday morning.

He says, this should serve as a wake-up call.

"We need to recognize that we have not put the kind of priority on our bridge infrastructure that we should've been," said DiNapoli, "Just imagine if we had to do a closure of the Peace Bridge. What that would do to western New York, we cannot allow that to happen, this is why we're taking the time to do this audit."

DiNapoli said, "These are the problems that are not going to self correct. And if you neglect them for too long, you can have the unexpected and the worst-case situation and we did with the Champlain Bridge. We cannot afford for that to happen with the Peace Bridge."

Meanwhile, the state DOT's top boss calls the comptroller's findings regarding management and oversight of the structural defects on highway bridges misleading and confusing.

News 4 will bring you more information Tuesday evening, on News 4 at 5 and 6.