DOT addresses safety concerns after hole forms on I-95 bridge

JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- Days of heavy rain took a serious toll on a major Jacksonville artery. Department of Transportation crews confirm the rain ripped a gaping hole in the middle of Interstate 95 southbound.

Workers spent the day patching it up but now travelers are seriously questing the safety of the bridge over Hendricks Avenue in San Marco.

This isn't the first time a hole has broken open there and officials predict it won't be the last.

"With all this rain I guess and we got more coming so...I hope they get it fixed," said Carol Magdon.

No one could believe their eyes as they watched crews remove a piece of old wood that appeared to be holding I-95 together.

"The sad part about this is what's the price of a human life? That's what you're putting in jeopardy," said David Moorefield.

Mike Goldman with DOT says this bridge is chronically crumbling and has been patched numerous times. It's been deemed structurally deficient. So why is it still in use? We took that question to the Department of Transportation.

"Yeah it is safe. As long as we make these repairs it's safe," Goldman said. He added it's standard procedure to patch up a hole using a piece of plywood as a support. That's exactly how they're fixing this one. "They would have to patch over it and let it set."

And Action News also learned the entire bridge is slated to be rebuilt. It's a $160 million project but it won't even start until early next year.

Goldman says construction will take quite some time. The new bridge won't be finished until late 2015.