50 of the Most Dangerous Bridges in America
As smart as structural and civil engineers are, as ingenious as their designs may be, and as durable as their bridges may appear, nothing is so permanent to withstand the forces of time and nature. Add to it the ubiquitousness of automobiles in the early twentieth century, and bridges—specifically American bridges—undergo an aging process that ranks behind many developed nations around the world.
"In 2016 the World Bank provided an interesting annual Global Ranking related to infrastructure quality," says Justin Loera, Senior Insurance Market Analyst at Auto Insurance Center, a news site that offers analysis on all things relating to automotives. "The United States ranked eighth in the world in national infrastructure quality, behind Germany and the U.K., but above France and Canada." Loera and his team recently unveiled a study spotlighting the most dangerous bridge from each state in America. They pinpointed bridges that were structurally deficient, or in Loera's terms, "when one or more of the key bridge components—such as the deck, superstructure, or substructure—was considered to be in poor condition or worse." Of course, structurally deficient bridges pose a real risk of collapsing— as it happened in Minneapolis in 2007, killing a total of seven people .
Below is the the full list, which was compiled using state-wide data from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, as well as national information from the Federal Highway Administration.
Alabama, Jefferson County, I-65 over U.S. 11 Railroad City Streets, built in 1970.
Alaska, Ketchikan Gateway County, South Tongass Highway over Hoadley Creek, built in 1957.
Arizona, Maricopa County, I-17 over 19th Avenue, built in 1961.
Arkansas, Pulaski County, Locust Street and S. Ft Road over Union Pacific Railroad, built in 1936.
California, Los Angeles County, I-110 over Dominguez Channel, built in 1960.
Colorado, Denver County, I-70 over Havana Street Union Pacific Railroad, built in 1964.
Connecticut, Fairfield County, Yankee Doodle Bridge, built in 1957.
Delaware, New Castle County, I-95 over SR1/Korean War Vet Memorial, built in 1963.
Florida, Duval County, Fuller Warren Bridge, built in 1959.
Georgia Fulton County, I-285 over South Utoy Creek, built in 1966.
Hawaii, Honolulu County, l Nimitz Highway over Kapalama Canal, built in 1949.
Idaho, Bonneville County, 17th Street over Sand Creek, built in 1957.
Illinois, DuPage County, I-55 over Lemont Road, built in 1960.
Indiana, Marion County, I-65 over New York Street, built in 1974.
Iowa, Scott County, Centennial Bridge, built in 1940.
The Centennial Bridge in Iowa spans the Mississippi River.
Kansas, Wyandotte County, 69 Highway (18th Street) over Kansas River, built in 1959.
Kentucky, Jefferson County, I-65 Off Ramp over I-64 River Road, built in 1965.
Louisiana, Caddo County, I-20 over St. Louis & SW Railroad, built in 1965.
Maine, Cumberland County, I-295 over Route 88, built in 1959.
Maryland, Prince George's County, I-95/495 over MD 214, built in 1963.
Massachusetts, Norfolk County, I-93/U.S. 1 over St 24, built in 1958.
Michigan, Wayne County, Second Blvd over I-94, built in 1954.
Minnesota, Ramsey County, Township Highway 36 over Lexington Avenue, built in 1938.
Mississippi, Warren County, Vicksburg Bridge, built in 1973.
A look at the Vicksburg Bridge in Mississippi.
Missouri, St. Louis County, I-270 E over Conway Road, built in 1964.
Montana, Cascade County, U.S. 89-Mt 3-Mt 2 over Missouri River, built in 1951.
Nebraska, Douglas County, U.S. 75 over J Street, built in 1970.
Nevada, Clark County, I-515 U.S. 95 U.S. 93 over Eastern Avenue, built in 1984.
New Hampshire, Hillsborough County, I-293 over N. Bridge Piscataquog River, built in 1957.
New Jersey, Union County, Garden State Parkway over Mill Road, built in 1953.
New Mexico, Bernalillo County, I-25 over NM-5 / Rio Bravo, built in 1963.
New York, Richmond County, Route I-278 over Relief, built in 1961.
North Carolina, Guilford County, Greensboro Bridge, built in 1955.
The Greensboro Bridge in North Carolina.
North Dakota, Cass County, U.S. 10 over Sheyenne River, built in 1938.
Ohio, Montgomery County, Ramp 35 to 75 over U.S. 35 E I-75, built in 1969.
Oklahoma, Oklahoma County, I-40 over Crooked Oak Creek, built in 1960.
Oregon, Multnomah County, Highway 1 to Highway 2 over Highway 1 I-5, built in 1963.
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia County, Delaware Expressway over Palmer-Cumberland Strs., built in 1971.
Rhode Island, Providence County, I-95 over U.S. 6 Woon River Amtrak, built in 1964.
South Carolina, Greenville County, I-85 over Trib Laurel Creek, built 1960.
South Dakota, Minnehaha County, West 12th St. over Ellis & Eastern Railroad, built in 1965.
Tennessee, Davidson County, I-24 over Mill Creek, built in 1958.
Texas, Montgomery County, I-45 over Rayford/Sawdust Road, built in 1991.
Utah, Utah County, I-15 over Union Pacific Railroad, built in 1964.
Vermont, Washington County, U.S. 302 over Stevens Branch, built in 1928.
Virginia, Virginia Beach County, I-264 over Lynnhaven Parkway, built in 1967.
Washington, King County, I-5 over Galer-Lakeview, built in 1961.
West Virginia, Kanawha County, I-64 over Country Road 61/12, built in 1974.
Wisconsin, St. Croix County, I-94 U.S. 12 over S 35, built in 1972.
Wyoming, Teton County, U.S. 26 over Flat Creek, built in 1969.