Rockville Centre garage closed after inspection

A parking garage in the Village of Rockville Centre was evacuated Tuesday after the village’s superintendent of buildings found evidence the structure may not be safe.

Rockville Centre Superintendent of Buildings Daniel Casella said the garage adjacent to a medical building is held up by columns made of steel beams encased in concrete shells. Crews working at 2 Lincoln Ave. have been stripping away the concrete as part of a repair project. Casella and Village Fire Chief Mark Murray were on a routine inspection Tuesday when Casella said he noticed rusting in critical areas of the beams.

Casella said he determined that the structure was compromised and ordered the evacuation. A preliminary assessment determined that the rusting stemmed from water leaking into the columns and becoming trapped between the concrete and the steel, he said.

“In my opinion, we found it just in time,” Casella said.

Casella said village officials have a meeting with engineers Wednesday afternoon to discuss repairs.

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