New Report on U.S. Bridges Released as I-35 Bridge Collapse Anniversary Approaches

Nearly one year to the date of last year’s I-35 Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis, a report released yesterday says at least one in four U.S. bridges needs repairs and at least $140 billion is needed to make them.

According to the report, 152,000 of the country’s 600,000 bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The report says the five main problems facing these bridges are: age, congestion, soaring construction costs, lack of funds for maintenance and the staggering costs associated with new bridges.

More than a dozen people were killed and 145 injured when the I-35 bridge collapsed Aug. 1, 2007 bridge collapse. The NTSB determined the bridge collapsed under the weight of tons of sand and construction materials that were stored at two of the structure’s weakest points. See the report here.

Bridge safety continues to be a concern across the nation. Last weekend, a 1,200-lb chunk of concrete fell onto highway traffic after the slab tore off the underside of an overpass in St. Paul, MN. An inspection on the I-35E overpasses says the 50-year-old bridge is “structurally safe.”

If you’re concerned about troubled bridges in your state, you can check them out here.