More than 1,000 miles of bridges across the nation are structurally deficient and in poor condition, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association’s sixth annual bridge report. At the current pace of improvements, it would take nearly a century to repair them all.
In its analysis of the recently released U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2018 National Bridge Inventory database, ARTBA found more than 47,000 bridges were classified as structurally deficient. Placed end-to-end, the bridges would span the distance between Chicago and Houston, approximately 1,100 miles.
According to the Federal Highway Administration’s definition, a structurally deficient bridge is one with any component (deck, superstructure, substructure or culverts) in poor condition. On a scale of 0 to 9, “poor” is a rating of 4. A 0 rating (“failed condition”) means the bridge is closed beyond repair, with a 9 rating meaning excellent condition. A “Poor” rating does not imply imminent danger to the public. Closures are only recommended to bridges with a rating of 2. Bridges with a 0 or 1 rating requires closures.
Report: More than 47,000 deficient bridges could take nearly a century to repair
In its analysis of the recently released U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2018 National Bridge Inventory database, ARTBA found more than 47,000 bridges were classified as structurally deficient. Placed end-to-end, the bridges would span the distance between Chicago and Houston, approximately 1,100 miles.
According to the Federal Highway Administration’s definition, a structurally deficient bridge is one with any component (deck, superstructure, substructure or culverts) in poor condition. On a scale of 0 to 9, “poor” is a rating of 4. A 0 rating (“failed condition”) means the bridge is closed beyond repair, with a 9 rating meaning excellent condition. A “Poor” rating does not imply imminent danger to the public. Closures are only recommended to bridges with a rating of 2. Bridges with a 0 or 1 rating requires closures.
Report: More than 47,000 deficient bridges could take nearly a century to repair
