Ohio Has 1,653 Structurally Deficient Bridges: Report

CLEVELAND, OH — Nearly 6 percent of all bridges in Ohio are structurally deficient, according to a study by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The state has identified needed repairs on 1,715 bridges, which could cost $27.4 billion.

The annual ARTBA study examines the quality of bridges throughout each state. Ohio is currently ranked 33rd out of the 50 states for percentage of bridges that need repairs, but 12th in terms of sheer number of bridges that need repairs.

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 repairs.

Three of the 10 most traveled but structurally deficient bridges are in Cuyahoga County. Those bridges are the I-77 over IR-77 bridge, I-271 N.B. over Cr 73 bridge and I-271 S.B. over Cr 73 bridge. Each of those bridges gets sees more than 45,000 commuters each day. All three bridges were built before 1965.

The most trafficked Ohio bridge that has been deemed structurally deficient is in Stark County. The I.R. 77 over W Br Nimish Cr & Abd RR bridge has daily traffic of more than 80,000 drivers. That bridge was built in 1969.

Approximately 1,050 bridges have been targeted for replacement by the state, for a projected cost of about $17 billion. One such project is already underway in Valley View, where the I-480 bridge decks will be replaced by 2024. That project alone will cost $227,774,080, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The National Picture

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.

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