[Abigail Adams]

Excellent point!

[Between the Lines]

I found this in another article:

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters was expected to issue an advisory urging states to check the gusset plates when modifications are made to a bridge — such as changes to the weight of the bridge or adding a guardrail, said a federal official with knowledge of the plans.

Currently, such calculations are done for the entire bridge, but not down to the gusset plates, the official said.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,322849,00.html

Now we know where the weakest link is.