Concerns Rise as Report Reveals 1 in 13 American Bridges Rated 'Poor'

The recent collision of a container ship with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has raised concerns about the safety of some of America's 600,000 bridges.

The Key Bridge had stood strong for 47 years without any major incidents, but when the Dali, a massive ship weighing over 100,000 tons, crashed into it, the bridge collapsed in less than a minute. While this sudden collapse may not have been completely predictable, bridge failures due to collisions are not uncommon, and this particular incident could possibly have been prevented.

Recent inspections of the Key Bridge determined it to be in "fair" condition, meeting all safety standards according to Maryland's governor. However, there are still thousands of bridges across the US that are in poor condition.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers and the federal government, there are approximately 46,000 bridges in America with aging structures that are deemed to be in poor condition. Furthermore, 17,000 of these bridges are at risk of collapsing from a single hit.

US bridges are at risk due to extreme weather events, heavy trucks, and collisions from larger container ships, according to engineers and infrastructure experts.

Furthermore, the aging infrastructure exacerbates these risks.

States regularly check US highway bridges every two years to determine their condition, classifying them as “good,” “fair,” or “poor.” A bridge labeled as poor is found to have certain parts in a state of advanced deterioration.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2021 infrastructure report card, approximately 7.5% of all bridges in the United States, totaling 46,100 out of 617,000, are considered structurally deficient and in poor condition. These structurally deficient bridges are crossed by 178 million vehicles each day.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore, Maryland on March 26, 2024. The steel frame of the bridge was seen resting on top of the container ship Dali after the tragic incident. Multiple vehicles and people fell into the cold harbor below when the bridge was struck by the Singapore-flagged Dali. There is no immediate confirmation on what caused the disaster, but Baltimore's Police Commissioner Richard Worley mentioned that there is no indication of terrorism. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

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Structurally deficient bridges are not necessarily unsafe, but they do need a lot of money to keep them safe, according to the organization. These bridges have a higher chance of being closed or having weight restrictions.

The group reported that there has been a decrease in the number of structurally deficient bridges in recent years, which is good news. However, it is concerning that the rate of spending on improvements has been slowing down. An estimate for the nation's backlog of bridge repairs is currently at $125 billion.

Fortunately, the federal infrastructure law passed in 2021, totaling $1.2 trillion, includes $110 billion specifically allocated for roads, bridges, and major infrastructure projects. This funding could potentially cover some of the necessary bridge improvements.

Climate change and heavier trucks

Many of the country’s older bridges are vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as earthquakes, hurricanes or elevated heat.

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2021 report, nearly 21,000 bridges are at risk of having their foundations compromised during extreme weather events.

Bridges are also vulnerable to earthquakes, posing a significant threat to their stability.

A family is seen looking at the steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in Baltimore, Maryland on March 26, 2024. The bridge collapsed early in the morning after being struck by the Singapore-flagged Dali container ship. This tragic event resulted in multiple vehicles and people falling into the cold harbor below. Despite the devastation, there was no immediate confirmation of the cause of the disaster. Baltimore's Police Commissioner Richard Worley mentioned that there was "no indication" of terrorism being involved.

Kent Nishimura/AFP/Getty Images

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A global disaster is happening on a bridge over a river in Baltimore.

According to a 2016 report from the Congressional Research Service, the seismic resilience of the US highway system has gotten better over the years. This is due to investments in new, stronger infrastructure and the upgrading of existing structures.

Not every highway has been retrofitted yet, and building infrastructure that is both cost effective and can withstand intense earthquakes remains a challenge, according to the report.

Moreover, bridges are under strain from trucks that exceed the weight limits they were originally designed for.

Larger cargo ships, which can exceed 40-ton loads, pose a threat to bridge structures according to a report by the American Society of Civil Engineers. They can lead to over-stressing of bridge elements, metal fatigue, cracking, and ultimately reduce the lifespan of the bridges.

Aging infrastructure, extreme weather, and larger vehicles are not the only worries we have.

There are over 17,000 bridges that are at risk of collapsing from a single impact, which are called "fracture critical" bridges. This means that if they are hit hard enough in a specific area, a large portion or even the entire bridge could come crashing down.

The National Transportation Safety Board announced on Wednesday that the Key Bridge was considered "fracture critical."

Experts emphasize the importance of enhancing or preserving old bridges to accommodate the increasing size of modern ships. The Dali, which collided with the Key Bridge on Tuesday, measured 984 feet in length - almost double the size of the vessels from the bridge's construction era in the 1970s.

Rescue personnel gathered on the shore of the Patapsco River after a container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, USA on 26 March 2024. The Maryland Department of Transportation confirmed that the bridge collapsed due to the impact. Baltimore City Fire Department Chief James W. Wallace stated that a search operation was in progress to find at least seven individuals believed to be in the waters of the river after the incident. Chief Wallace mentioned that sonar had detected vehicles submerged in the water. The Singapore-flagged cargo ship DALI was en route from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, as confirmed by MarineTraffic.

Baltimore bridge collapses after being hit by cargo ship, USA - 26 Mar 2024.

Jim Lo Scalzo/EPE-EFE/Shutterstock

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Between 1960 and 2015, a total of 35 major bridges worldwide collapsed due to ship or barge collisions, leading to 342 deaths, as reported by the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure in 2018.

During the beginning of this year, several bridge incidents occurred around the world. In Baltimore, the Key Bridge collapsed, in southern China, a bridge was sliced in half, and in Argentina, parts of a bridge were cut through after collisions with large commercial ships.

According to Ananth Prasad, president of the Florida Transportation Builders’ Association, the increase in ship size and focus on deepening cargo ports has led to a need for better protection of bridges. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding bridges in these unique situations where large ships may pose a threat.

To reduce the risk of ships causing damage to bridges, it is important to incorporate redundancies into the design of the bridges. These redundancies act as protections around the vulnerable areas of the bridges.

One common form of redundancy is the use of "dolphins" and "fenders". Dolphins are structures that are anchored in the seabed or riverbed and extend above the water surface. They are typically constructed from timber or steel. Fenders, on the other hand, are structures that help to redirect objects away from the critical points on the bridge, reducing the impact force in case of a collision.

Prasad mentioned that adding counter-protections is faster and cheaper than constructing a new bridge.

He also highlighted the importance of reevaluating the protection systems around bridge columns to accommodate larger ships.

CNN’s Jessie Yeung, Curt Devine, Casey Tolan and Isabelle Chapman contributed to this article.

Editor's P/S:

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the deteriorating condition of America's bridges. While the Key Bridge was deemed to be in "fair" condition, the incident highlights the fact that even bridges that meet safety standards can be vulnerable to catastrophic failure. The aging infrastructure, coupled with the increasing size of container ships and the strain from heavy trucks, poses significant risks to these critical structures.

To prevent further disasters, it is imperative that the government prioritize investments in bridge repair and maintenance. The $110 billion allocated for bridge projects in the recent infrastructure law is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the backlog of repairs estimated at $125 billion. Additionally, implementing redundancies into bridge designs, such as dolphins and fenders, can help reduce the risk of damage from ship collisions. By proactively addressing these issues, we can ensure the safety of our bridges and the communities they serve.