County Executive Robert P. Astorino issued the following statement, in the aftermath of Friday's safety issues with the Ashford Avenue Bridge:

"Last night's temporary closing of the Ashford Avenue bridge vividly illustrates the need to expedite the comprehensive repair of this critical roadway. While the repair process has already begun, it is clear the timetable needs to be accelerated.

"I have directed county officials with the Department of Public Works and other agencies to immediately coordinate with state, town and village officials, as well as the Board of Legislators, on fast-tracking the repairs.

"Fortunately, no one was injured last night and engineers have verified the bridge is structurally sound. But it is a warning that that can't be ignored the repair process needs to be accelerated. I want to thank all the county, town, village and state teams who responded last night. Because of their expertise and professionalism, we were able to reopen the bridge in a matter of hours while ensuring the public's safety at all times."