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SACRAMENTO—An analysis of the 2013 National Bridge Inventory database released this month by the US Department of Transportation shows cars, trucks and school buses cross California's 2,769 structurally compromised bridges 58.3 million times every day. And according to the chief economist for the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the problem could get a lot worse.
“States across the nation face a slowdown in reimbursements for already approved federal-aid highway projects in August,” says Dr. Alison Premo Black. Without congressional action, Black says there will be no Highway Trust Fund support for any new road, bridge, or public transportation projects in any state during FY 2015, which begins October 1.
“Letting the Highway Trust Fund investment dry up would have a devastating impact on bridge repairs,” Black says, noting the trust fund supports an average $572 million annually in California bridge work. “It would set back bridge improvements for years.”
The state transportation department can't just wave a magic wand and make the problem go away, he adds. “It takes committed investment by our legislators. Members of Congress need to come to grips with that. Some of our most heavily travelled bridges were built in the 1930s. Most are more than 40 years old.”
Bridge decks and support structures are regularly inspected by the state transportation departments for deterioration and are rated on a scale of zero to nine--nine being "excellent" condition. A bridge is classified as structurally deficient and in need of repair if its overall rating is four or below.
While these bridges may not be imminently unsafe, ARTBA suggests they be sign posted so the public knows they have structural deficiencies that need repair.
On a national level, data from the new government report shows that if all the structurally deficient bridges in the US were placed end-to-end, it would take you 25 hours driving 60 miles per hour to cross them. That's like driving the 1,500 miles between Boston and Miami.
The ARTBA analysis of the bridge data supplied by the states to the USDOT found:
—California ranks 5th nationally in its number of structurally deficient bridges.
—California ranks 20th in the percentage of its bridges that are classified as structurally deficient—11%.
Below is a list of the 10 structurally deficient bridges in California that carry the most traffic daily.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com and GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
