New Data Suggests 55,000 Bridges Are Structurally Unsound
An alarming report issued by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) has found that more than 55,000 bridges across the United States are “structurally deficient bridges.” This classification does not mean that bridges are necessarily unsafe, but it does indicate they are “in need of attention.”
A Few Statistics
- More than a quarter of these bridges are over 50 years old and have never had major work done.
- The states with the highest incidence of deficient bridges are: Iowa, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska.
- There are approximately 185 million daily crossing on these bridges.
What is at Stake?
A functioning highway system is key to interstate trade and thus maintaining the economy. America’s gas tax usually funds the highway system. However, as cars have become more efficient, the amount of money generated by this tax has decreased. This lack of funds has led to under-performing roads and bridges that are in desperate need of an upgrade.
What’s in Store?
President Trump has pledged $1 trillion to infrastructure planning over the next decade. However, no one is quite sure which funding sources will be utilized. Upkeep on America’s roads and bridges is reaching a tipping point, and changes must be made quickly and soon. To this point, U.S. Bridge recently installed a steel bridge in under 30 days in Ohio. The SPS bridge had a modular design that allowed installation to take minutes instead of days.
As America’s infrastructure continues to suffer from overuse and neglect, innovations like the SPS bridge installation will be critical to improving that state of our roads. At U.S. Bridge, we work closely with state transportation departments to quickly and efficiently design, implement, and install bridges. It is our goal to make the right type of pre-fabricated bridges accessible across the U.S. so reports like this one are a thing of the past.
We’re Here to Help
If you would like a quote from U.S. Bridge, we invite you to contact us today. Our expert team of designers and bridge builders is willing and able to work closely with your team to install long-lasting bridges that will stand the stresses of time.