Nearly 221,800 U.S. bridges need major repair or replacement, an American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) analysis of recently released federal government data shows.
Placed end-to-end, these structures span over 6,100 miles, or the equivalent of every mile of urban and rural Interstate in California, Florida, and Illinois.
Of the bridges needing repair, 42,067 are rated in poor condition and classified as “structurally deficient.” That is 324 fewer than in 2023.
States with the biggest decline in the number of bridges in poor condition: Pennsylvania (down 90), Louisiana (down 87), Florida (down 85), West Virginia (down 74), and California (down 64).
Bridges in poor condition represent 6.8 percent of the 2024 U.S. bridge inventory—compared to 7.3 percent in 2020.
“Over the last five years we have seen significant progress in states like Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia – reducing the number of bridges in poor condition,” said Dr. Alison Premo Black, ARTBA’s chief economist, who conducted the analysis. “While improvements can take time, every bridge repair increases the safety and efficiency of our network for the traveling public.”
States have received $15.9 billion in the first three years of the IIJA’s new $27.5 billion formula bridge program and, to date, have committed 46 percent ($7.3 billion) of these resources to over 4,170 bridge projects.
The remaining 54 percent ($8.5 billion) of already released bridge funds – plus the $10.6 billion that will be provided in the next two years – will support needed bridge improvements well into the future.
Twenty-three states have committed at least half of their available bridge formula funds, with the top 10 being: Georgia (100%), North Dakota (99%), Indiana (98%), Florida (96%), Oklahoma (95%), Nebraska (91.5%), Idaho (91.5%), Arkansas (88%), West Virginia (85%) and Alabama (85%).
Bridges that have come off the “poor condition” list include:
- I-695 over U.S. 40, Md.
- I-93 over Conley Street, Mass.
- I-680 over Capitol Avenue, Calif.
- I-55 over Madison Street, Ill.
- I-95 over Route 608, Va.
Bridges newly rated in poor condition include:
- I-90 over Canal to Stewart Streets, Ill.
- Interstate 680 over Monument Boulevard, Calif.
- I-93 over Mystic Valley Parkway, Mass.
- I-95 North and Southbound over Thurbers Avenue, R.I.
- IH-35 over Grand Avenue, Texas
Based on average cost data submitted by states to the U.S. Department of Transportation, ARTBA estimates it would cost over $400 billion to make all needed repairs to the 221,800 structures.
GEORGIA
- The state has identified needed repairs on 13,721 bridges.
- This compares to 13,698 bridges that needed work in 2020.
- Over the life of the IIJA, Georgia will receive a total of $225.0 million in bridge formula funds, which will help make needed repairs.
- Georgia currently has access to $135.0 million of that total, and has committed $134.8 million towards 65 projects as of June 2024.
- Of the 15,069 bridges in the state, 240, or 1.6 percent, are classified as structurally deficient. This means one of the key elements is in poor or worse condition.
- This is down from 374 bridges classified as structurally deficient in 2020.
- The deck area of structurally deficient bridges accounts for 1.0 percent of total deck area on all structures.
Top Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in Georgia
| County | Year Built | Daily Crossings | Type of Bridge | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockdale | 1963 | 45,600 | Urban other principal arterial | SR 20 over I-20 |
| Clayton | 1959 | 35,000 | Urban local road | I-285 Ramp over I-285 Ramp to I-75 SBl |
| Glynn | 1986 | 32,900 | Urban other principal arterial | SR 25Se Torras Cau over Mackay River |
| DeKalb | 1954 | 27,900 | Urban other principal arterial | Snapfinger Road over Snapfinger Creek |
| Wayne | 1957 | 17,800 | Urban other principal arterial | US 84 (WBl) over Little Mcmillan Creek |
| Fulton | 1937 | 17,700 | Urban minor arterial | Cheshire Bridge Rd over CSX Railroad (639814N) |
| Bartow | 1949 | 11,900 | Rural minor arterial | US 41 over Two Run Creek |
| DeKalb | 1958 | 11,800 | Urban collector | Houston Mill Road over S Fork Peachtree Creek |
| Fulton | 1962 | 11,500 | Urban minor arterial | Mt. Vernon Hwy over I-285 (SR 407) |
| Hall | 1961 | 11,100 | Urban minor arterial | Mcever Rd over Balus Creek |
| DeKalb | 1965 | 10,400 | Urban collector | Cedar Grove Road over Ns Railroad |
| White | 1941 | 10,200 | Rural minor arterial | SR 17- SR 75 over Chattahoochee River |
| Rabun | 1926 | 9,330 | Rural arterial | SR 15, US 23, US over Betty Creek |
| Spalding | 1977 | 6,820 | Urban minor arterial | Poplar Street over Ns Railroad |
| McIntosh | 1944 | 6,790 | Rural minor arterial | US 17 SR 25 over Darien River |
| Floyd | 1931 | 6,180 | Urban minor arterial | Calhoun Road over Zuber Creek |
| Butts | 1954 | 5,920 | Rural local road | SR 36 over Norris Creek |
| Brantley | 1964 | 5,680 | Rural arterial | US 82 Cor Z WBL / over Satilla River overflow |
| Newton | 1964 | 5,470 | Rural major collector | SR 212 over Lake Jackson(Ocmulgee R) |
| Catoosa | 1961 | 5,360 | Urban minor arterial | Post Road (M-1110) over I-75 |
| Chatham | 1922 | 5,240 | Urban other principal arterial | Houlihan Bridge over Savannah River |
| Floyd | 1978 | 5,220 | Urban minor arterial | Kingston Avenue over Ns Railroad (719097 |
| Stephens | 1956 | 4,980 | Urban minor arterial | Fernside Drive over Wards Creek |
| Baker | 1956 | 4,900 | Rural arterial | US 29 over Savannah Riv/Co Rd In Ga |
| Gilmer | 1940 | 4,880 | Rural major collector | SR 52 over Licklog Creek |
Data is from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), downloaded on August 20, 2024. Note that specific conditions on bridges may have changed as a result of recent work or updated inspections.
National and State Rankings Available:Â www.artbabridgereport.org
