Upgrading of Deficient Bridges at Slowest Pace in Five Years

Industry News / Infrastructure

April 4, 2019

Upgrading of Deficient Bridges at Slowest Pace in Five Years

The number of structurally deficient bridges across the country declined last year to 47,052, but according to analysis by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), the pace of repair has slowed to the slowest point in the past five years.

“At current pace, it would take more than 80 years to replace or repair the nation’s structurally deficient bridges,” says ARTBA Chief Economist Dr. Alison Premo Black.

Since 2014 the repair pace has slowed each year, from 8.7 percent in 2014 to 7.6 percent in 2018.

Of the 47,052 structurally deficient bridges, 1,775 are on the Interstate Highway System.

The Highway Trust Fund (HTF) provides more than 50 percent of highway and bridge capital investments made annually by state transportation departments.

According to ARTBA, including the structurally deficient bridges, nearly 235,000 bridges are in need of some sort of structural repair, rehabilitation or replacement. The association estimates the cost to make the identified repairs is almost $171 billion.

 

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