Governor wants pontoons checked

SEATTLE – Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said she wants an independent expert panel to review the safety of pontoons being built for the new floating bridge across Lake Washington.

The governor’s statement came after a television report on construction flaws found in the first pontoons built for the new Highway 520 bridge.

Gregoire told KOMO-TV on Friday that “based on what I saw in your report I want another independent expert panel to review” the pontoons. The governor promised that Washington citizens would be protected.

Small cracks have appeared in at least two of the first six pontoons built for the bridge, but transportation officials said the problem is manageable.