BALTIMORE COUNTY, Maryland — Questions over bridge safety have emerged after a historic bridge in Phoenix collapsed Monday when a septic truck crossed it, with the driver now saying the structure’s construction was not adequate for its certified weight limit.

The Carroll Road Bridge, built in 1879 and maintained by Baltimore County, gave way as a septic truck passed over it. No one was injured, but the bridge — one of Maryland’s remaining historic metal truss designs — was destroyed. Crews used cranes Tuesday to remove the wreckage and assess the damage.

According to WBAL-TV 11 News, inspections in 2023 downgraded the bridge’s condition from satisfactory to fair, citing decaying timber and loose bolts. However, none of the issues were deemed severe enough to demand immediate repair. The bridge carried a 51,000-pound weight limit.

The truck’s driver, John Cossentino, told investigators he was 10,000 pounds under that limit when the collapse occurred. “I have been cleared of all fault,” he said. “They weighed every single ounce of my truck and the load. The bridge wasn’t strong enough for its certification.”

^{Photo credit: CBS Baltimore and WBAL News}

Cossentino described the incident as terrifying: “Glass was shattering on me, a big beam on the bridge came down on me — it was like a bad dream.”

Baltimore County officials said engineers inspect all 717 county-maintained bridges every two years. The Department of Public Works and Transportation completed 72 bridge repairs last year at a cost of $3.3 million.

Police confirmed the driver was not in violation of weight regulations when crossing the bridge, and no citations were issued. The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.

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