New Mexico district's buses to avoid certain bridges
Gallup-McKinley County Schools' buses won't cross metal bridges that are rated for less than 15 tons until the state certifies them safe for the weight of the buses. Meantime, parents will be reimbursed for mileage to take their students to bus stops on the other side of the bridges.
GALLUP, N.M. — The local school district's buses won't cross certain bridges on county and tribal roads until the state deems it safe to do so.
Officials at Gallup-McKinley County Schools said that the bridges that will be avoided are metal bridges rated for less than 15 tons. The buses won't cross those bridges until the New Mexico Department of Transportation certifies them safe for the weight of the buses.
"Unfortunately, we have had to shorten some of our routes because of bridges in the county," Gallup-McKinley Superintendent Frank Chiapetti said. "Any bridge that is marked 10 tons we cannot cross, because our buses are heavier than this."
Chiapetti said that the district is working with county, tribe and state officials to look at the bridge certifications.
"This decision is not a fiscal decision, but a safety issue," he added.
In the meantime, parents will need to take their students to bus stops on the other side of the bridges. The district encouraged parents to sign up for feeder route reimbursement, which will be 35 cents per mile.
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