RALEIGH - After the collapse of an interstate bridge in Washington state, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is assuring drivers that our bridges are safe.

Terry Gibson, the chief engineer for the DOT, says they received extra funding a few years ago for inspections and repairs.

"A couple years ago the General Assembly gave us about $450 million to address our bridge conditions in North Carolina and we've been able to touch about 1100 bridges in the last two years."

Gibson says they've replaced 560 bridges and are working on 450 more.