Quarter of Rhode Island Bridges Structurally Deficient: See the List of Most Traveled

Everyone complains about the bridges they drive over every day. But in Rhode Island, our gripes carry a bit more weight.

A quarter of the bridges in Rhode Island are classified as structurally deficient, according to the National Bridge Inventory Database. (See list below for Rhode Island bridges.)

Of the 772 bridges in the state, 192 (25 percent) are "structurally deficient," meaning at least one of the bridge's key elements is in "poor" or worse condition. The Ocean State ranks first (or, in this case, last) in percentage of structurally deficient bridges and ranks 44th in overall number.

If that isn't bad enough, 242 bridges (31 percent) are "functionally obsolete," meaning they do not meet current design standards.

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Rhode Island isn't blind to the issue: The state has identified needed repairs on 724 bridges, which will cost an estimated $3 billion, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration.

The National Bridge Inventory Database reports federal investment in the state has supported $930.5 million for capital improvements on 325 bridges between 2005 and 2014.

In the last decade, 51 new bridges have been constructed here, while 39 have had major reconstruction.

Here's a list of the 25 most traveled structurally deficient bridges in Rhode Island:

Kent County

• Airport Connector over US 1 Post Rd - Built in 1968, has 42,100 daily crossings

Providence County

• I-95 NB & SB over US 6 Woon Rvr Amtrak - Built in 1964, has 171,707 daily crossings
• I-95 NB & SB over Blackstone St - Built in 1961, has 167,639 daily crossings
• I-95 NB & SB over Wellington Ave. - Built in 1964, has 157,769 daily crossings
• I-95 NB & SB over Amtrak - Built in 1964, has 157,769 daily crossings
• I-95 NB & SB over US 1 Elmwood Ave. - Built in 1965, has 157,769 daily crossings
• I-195 WB over Seekonk River - Built in 1969, has 76,700 daily crossings
• US 6 Olneyvlle Exp over Plainfield St - Built in 1953, has 70,690 daily crossings
• RI 146 Ed Dowl Hwy over RI 15 Mineral Spring Ave. - Built in 1957, has 69,109 daily crossings
• RI 146 Ed Dowl Hwy over Branch Ave. - Built in 1957, has 67,584 daily crossings
• US 6 EB & WB over US 6A Hartford Ave. - Built in 1969, has 59,930 daily crossings
• US 6 Olneyvlle Exp over Westminster Troy Amtrak - Built in 1951, has 48,800 daily crossings
• RI 146 Ed Dowl Hwy over Cobble Hill Rd. - Built in 1956, has 47,393 daily crossings
• RI 146 Ed Dowl Hwy over RI 116 George Wash Hwy - Built in 1942, has 47,393 daily crossings
• RI 146 Ed Dowl Hwy over RI 246 Charles St - Built in 1956, has 47,208 daily crossings
• RI 37 EB & WB over Power Road - Built in 1965, has 40,900 daily crossings
• RI 37 EB & WB over Pontiac Av - Built in 1965, has 40,900 daily crossings
• Dean St over Woonasquatucket River - Built in 1973, has 39,800 daily crossings
• RI 146 N Smfld Exp over Pound Hill Rd - Built in 1958, has 39,465 daily crossings
• I-295 SB over RI 5 Greenville Av - Built in 1970, has 38,435 daily crossings
• RI 37 EB & WB over I-295 NB - Built in 1968, has 36,923 daily crossings

Washington County

• RI 4 Col Rodman Hy over Amtrak - Built in 1953, has 56,311 daily crossings
• RI 4 NB & SB over Lafayette Rd - Built in 1988, has 56,311 daily crossings
• US 1 Tower Hill Rd over RI 138 - Built in 1969, has 46,800 daily crossings
• I-95 NB & SB over Route 3 - Built in 1969, has 43,029 daily crossings

Photo by Doug Kerr via Flickr