After Genoa: Is the U.S. at Risk of a Catastrophic Bridge Collapse?

The story

After this week’s tragic bridge collapse in Genoa, Italy that killed at least 39 people, some are wondering if something similar could happen in the U.S.

The Genovese bridge collapse was no surprise, and experts had been raising concerns about its structural integrity for some time.

And so it begs the question: Are any U.S. bridges in a similar state of disrepair?

The answer: Quite possibly.

Structurally deficient U.S. bridges

In 2017, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) listed 54,259 bridges that were deemed "structurally deficient," saying it would take an estimated 37 years to repair all of them. 

Of these, the 10 most traveled bridges are in California or Missouri. In total, American drivers cross structurally deficient bridges 174 million times every day.

In February, President Donald Trump announced a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan that included provisions for bridge repair.

Observers have noted that there has been little progress since then, as an estimated $123 billion backlog mounts for U.S. bridge repairs. 

The Bridge Investment Act, introduced by Senate Democrats this January, would establish a competitive grant program for the repair, rehabilitation, improvement, or replacement of bridges. Here too, there have been few signs of progress.

A Wednesday opinion piece in the Washington Examiner said:

“Despite the president’s stated commitment to infrastructure, Trump has made little effort to push Congress to act and Congress has done little to meet the president’s goals on developing infrastructure.”

What do you think?

What should the government do to address decaying infrastructure? Hit Take Action to tell your reps what you think, then share your thoughts below.

—Sara E. Murphy

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / LawrenceSawyer)