JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A tip emailed to the News4Jax I-TEAM hotline prompted an investigation into a "dangerous" bridge that kids have to cross to get to their elementary school on Jacksonville's Westside.
There are several large holes in the walkover bridge along Hammond Avenue, which is just a few blocks away from Crystal Springs Elementary. Parents call it an "ongoing safety problem."
News4Jax discovered two holes in the bridge are big enough for a child's foot to slide right on through. City crews have even put barricades to let pedestrians know the holes exist, but parents say it's a bridge kids use every single day.
Lisa Boyett, who has a 6-year-old daughter, contacted the I-TEAM about the recurring issues with this bridge.
"It's dangerous," she said. "I really don't want the kids to come down on this bridge that falls through."
The wooden planks are deteriorating and barricades are the only thing protecting the students from stepping into the gaping holes.
"It's a safety hazard. This is our future, running across here, walking across here," Boyett said.
"Anything can happen, they could step on a board and it could completely break, there are lot of little kids out here, anything can happen," said Jessica Lacount, who's also concerned about the bridge.
It's the second time this school year that the bridge has had to be repaired. The first time, crossing guards say it was impassable.
This crossing guard, who does not wish to be identified, says when the bridge was impassable, she had to walk groups of kids hand-in-hand, along the shoulder of the road instead. She says the wooden planks on this bridge have been repaired six times over the past three years.
"When they come fix it, they half fix it and never come back to fix it."
The I-TEAM asked city officials about plans to repair the bridge, and they said, "The issue was reported to Public Works on Feb. 10. That issue serves as the work order. Public Works officials have marked the wooden planks that need replacing with Xs and repairs are scheduled in the near future."
Neighbors say the problems affect everyone who walks along Hammond Boulevard, which connects to Normandy Boulevard.
"I honestly got halfway across the bridge and started asking myself if I should walk across it. It seems a little scary. I wouldn't let our kids walk across it," said Katie Boren, who's also concerned about the bridge.
A spokesperson for the city of Jacksonville says they plan on fixing this bridge on Monday, but parents say they are still concerned that this will be just another quick fix, and not a long-term solution.