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20% of U.S. bridges need fixing

See below for more information on the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project

  • Who Is Walsh Group, Plenary Group, Granite & HDR?
  • What Is The Rapid Bridge Replacement Project?


February 03, 2017

In an article recently published by Today's Trucking Magazine, Pennsylvania is listed as one of the top five states with the highest number of structurally deficient bridges in 2016. 

Approximately one in five bridges in the U.S. is in need of some improvement. "Despite overall condition improvements over the past 25 years, big challenges lie ahead," says Regina-based Infrastructure Data Solutions, Inc. (IDS) President Dr. Mahmoud Halfawy.

"Based on our analysis, the average age of bridges nationwide is 36 years, and given that the average design life of most existing bridges is 50 years, a big wave of structurally deficient bridges is expected to spike over the next 20 to 30 years."

The analysis undertaken using NBI benchmarking software also reveals that the total deck area of bridges built in the 1960s and 1970s represents almost 35% of the total deck area of nationwide inventory. Many of these bridges will soon be due for major rehabilitation or replacement. 

With current levels of funding available to agencies, it is extremely challenging to keep up with the expected needs. "To sustain past progress, agencies will need to get aggressive in implementing new efficiencies and introduce innovation in bridge preservation, programming, and project delivery," Halfawy said.

Generally, though, sustained funding and improved practices over the past 25 years have led to a steady improvement of the condition of U.S. bridges.

The latest National Bridge Inventory (NBI) data released by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration reveals a remarkable decline of structurally deficient bridges to 55,309 (9% of nationwide inventory) in 2016 from 118,757 (21% of the inventory) back in 1992. Since last year alone, the number of deficient bridges dropped by 2,735. However, the number of functionally obsolete bridges nationwide has dropped slightly from 80,461 in 1992 to 75,703 bridges in 2016.

Between 1992 and 2016, the number of structurally deficient bridges has been on a downtrend in most states. New York has seen the largest reduction from 9,884 (57% of the state inventory) to just 1,885 (11%). 

Other significant reductions were in Missouri (27%), Mississippi (21%), and Oklahoma (20%). The five states with the highest number of structurally deficient bridges in 2016 are Iowa (4,931), Pennsylvania (4,410), Oklahoma (3,414), Missouri (3,147), and Nebraska (2,326). California continues to have the highest total deck area of deficient bridges, followed by Louisiana, New York, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. 

Analysis results of National Bridge Inventory data can be accessed at NBIBenchmarking.com. 


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About The ProjectContact Us

4 Penn Center Blvd., Suite 100
Pittsburgh, PA 15275

info@parapidbridges.com

Hotline: 877-444-9990
Hours: M–F from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET

Contact:  Andrew Dressler,  312.756.9119

Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners believes in engaging local community and disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) resources to benefit our projects and the communities in which we do business. We seek to establish relationships with local DBE firms, encourage and assist potential DBEs to obtain necessary certification and prequalification, and aid development of DBEs through their active involvement.

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