Bridge Owners Continue Struggle to Sustain Safe, Satisfactory Bridge Inventories

摘要

Bridges are the backbone of our country's economy. However, of our nation's nearly 600,000 bridges, nearly 25% are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Bridge owners face multiple challenges in infrastructure management: Our bridge inventory is aging at a significant rate; the average bridge in the U.S. is nearly 43 years old and nearing the end of its design life. Today, many bridges carry loads and traffic volumes higher than they were designed. Current investments are not meeting growing needs.