Construction on the I-86 Veterans Memorial Bridge is underway. Submitted photo

Despite worries and concerns voiced by residents on social media over the weekend, a New York state Department of Transportation director maintains the Interstate 86 bridges over Chautauqua Lake are “safe for travel.”

“New York state DOT is aware of social media posts over the weekend that questioned the safety of the spans,” said Eric Meka, state DOT Region 5 director. “These are false.”

Meka said as part of the ongoing rehabilitation project, DOT contractors power washed girders and removed corroded metal. “This is a routine occurrence and in no way compromised the structural integrity of the bridge,” he said.

Meka noted the DOT did additional inspections of the structural steel over the weekend and found them to have more than adequate load capacity. “Safety is always NYSDOT’s top priority and any bridge that was determined to be unsafe would be closed immediately,” he said.