Inventory Shows Slow Bridge Condition Improvement

摘要

Bridge conditions have improved slightly, according to the Better Roads' 2003 Bridge Inventory, but agencies face serious challenges in trying to continue this trend. The recently released American Society of Civil Engineers infrastructure rating confirms Better Roads'own 2003 Bridge Inventory findings. Bridge conditions are in a holding pattern, rating a C on the AS-CE Progress Report Card and improving only marginally in our own 2003 study. A look at creeping improvement shows that the percent of structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges went from 29% in 1998 to 27.5% in 2000 to 25.8% or 153,420 bridges this year. Bridges evaluated are 20 feet or more in length. A functionally obsolete bridge has older design features and can't accommodate current traffic volumes, vehicle sizes, and weights. Structurally deficient bridges are closed or are weight and/or speed restricted. Deficient or obsolete bridges contribute greatly to congestion. And congestion leads to another poor ASCE grade ― our nation's roads were given a D+ on the ASCE 2003 Progress Report Card.