Residents Worry That Bridge Work Slows Emergency Response Time

On Tuesday night, paramedics responded to Kennedy Memorial Field after two teenage girls were hurt during a softball game. One girl was hit in the throat by a softball. The other broke her leg.

Residents of East Haven say that emergency workers would have gotten there faster if the bridge on Maple Street wasn't under construction.

Emergency workers say that bridge construction is not slowing down response time.

Rachel Buskey had friends at the game and said people became concerned over the emergency response time.

"She said that if the bridge was open, they would have gotten there in enough time to help a lot more," Buskey said.

Emergency crews were able to get the two teens to the hospital and they are both OK.

To get there, crews had to go around the bridge on Maple Street, which has been closed for about two years now while crews work to reconstruct it.

People who live nearby say the detour around the area is confusing.

"Lots of people are worried, like if you have a fire here. It's quite a ways around before they get here instead of just, the fire department is right there," said James Buskey.

However, the fire department said, residents shouldn't be too concerned. Its response times are still excellent. In fact, crews were able to get over to Maple Street within minutes.

"The first unit was on scene in four minutes and 30 seconds and that includes the call taking time," said East Haven Fire Chief Doug Jackson.

Chief Jackson said the response time usually seems longer for people who are in distress, but all times are accurately documented at the fire department.

The second call took eight and half minutes, because a truck had to come from another station. It was not because of the detour.

"There is a little bit of an effect, but I think it's about a minute, underside of a minute for us," said Chief Jackson.

Still, neighbors on and around Maple Street want to see the construction finished, if not for the emergency vehicles, for the extra effort it takes them to get home.
 

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