Connecticut Has 332 Structurally Deficient Bridges: Report

WASHINGTON, DC — Americans cross bridges rated as "structurally deficient" 174 million times a day, according to a new analysis of federal data. There are more than 612,000 bridges in the country; of those, 54,259 were rated structurally deficient, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

Inspectors rate bridge decks and support structures on a scale of zero to nine for deterioration and remedial action. A rating of nine means the bridge is in “excellent” condition. A rating of four or below means a bridge is classified as structurally deficient and in need of repair.

Connecticut state ranked 27th in the country in highest percentage of bridges deemed to be in poor condition and 36th highest based on the actual number of such bridges.

In Connecticut there were 332 structurally deficient bridges, the analysis found. That accounts for 7.8 percent of all bridges in the state.

Over the last five years bridge investment in Connecticut accounted for 50.1 percent of all highway and bridge contract awards in the state, compared to 28.9 percent nationwide.

Over the last 10 years 184 new bridges have been constructed in Connecticut and 155 have undergone major reconstruction. The state has identified needed repairs on five bridges.

The top most traveled structurally deficient bridges in Connecticut are:

1. Yankee Doodle Bridge in Fairfield County
2. I-95 over Metro-North in New Haven County
3. I-91 over Amtrak Railroad in New Haven
4. I-95 over Byram River in Fairfield County
5. I-91 over North Front Street and Quinn River in New Haven County
6. Interstate 95 Over Route 33 in Fairfield County
7. I-95 and I-95 Ramps over MNRR and Local Roads in Fairfield County
8. Interstate 84 over Market Street and I-91 NB in Hartford County
9. Interstate 84 over Mad River in New Haven County
10. Interstate 95 over U.S. Route 1 in New Haven County
11. Interstate 84 WB over Amtrak RR and Local Roads in Hartford County
12. Interstate 84 EB over Amtrak RR and Local Roads in Hartford County
13. Interstate 84 EB over Broad Street, I-84 Ramp 191
14. Route 15 over Saugatuck River in Fairfield County
15. Interstate 84 EB over Amtrak RR, Local Roads and Parking in Hartford County
16. Interstate 84 WB over Amtrak RR, Local Roads and Parking in Hartford County
17. Interstate 84 EB over I-84 WB, Rt 8, Naugatuck River in New Haven County
18. Interstate 84 WB over RT8, Naugatuck River in New Haven County
19. Interstate 95 over Route 161 in New London County
20. Route 8 over Housatonic River, RT. 110 in Fairfield County
21. Interstate 84 East over New Park AV, Amtrak, Sr. 504 in Hartford County
22. Interstate 95 NB over Thames Rv, RR, Local Roads in New London County
23. Interstate 84 EB over Route 15 in Hartford County
24. Route 9 over P&W Railroad and Union St. in Middlesex County
25. Interstate 91 NB over Park River and CSO RR in Hartford County

In 21 states nationwide, at least 9 percent of bridges were rated structurally deficient, the analysis found. If placed end-to-end, the number of such bridges could stretch more than 1,200 miles — nearly the distance between Miami and New York City.

On average, those bridges were built 67 years ago, when Harry Truman was president. Non-deficient bridges were 27 years younger on average.

Iowa, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and New York have the most structurally deficient bridges, the analysis found.

The Federal Highway Administration told NBC News in a statement, that the report "underscores the need for investment in our nation's infrastructure."

"It also highlights the importance of streamlining the permitting process, so that the projects that are funded can move forward without undue delay," the agency said.

The road and transportation group that conducted the analysis is a non-partisan federation that aims to "aggressively grow and protect transportation infrastructure investment" in order to meet demand for safe and efficient travel.

Alison Premo Black, chief economist for the group, said in a release that it would take 37 years to remedy every bridge at the current pace of repair or replacement. An infrastructure package aimed at modernizing the interstate system would benefit the economy both in the short and long term, she said.

Traffic bottlenecks cost the trucking industry alone more than $60 billion a year in lost productivity and fuel. That “increases the cost of everything we make, buy or export," she said.

President Donald Trump is expected to talk about the nation's crumbling infrastructure during the State of the Union on Tuesday night. During his campaign, he pledged to spend $1 trillion to rebuild America's roads and bridges.

Photo credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images