Mission: Public Safety & Environment

Systemic US Bridge Deterioration and Collapse Risks

Latest FHWA 2025 National Bridge Inventory data shows modest improvement with approximately 41,600 bridges rated in poor condition as of mid-2025, down slightly from prior ~42,000 figures, supporting 163 million daily crossings per ARTBA analysis. Major projects like the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor broke ground in May 2026 with a new companion bridge targeted for 2031 at $4+ billion cost. NTSB issued March 2025 recommendations for urgent evaluation of 68 high-risk bridges including Sunshine Skyway and Golden Gate. Isolated incidents include a 2025 SC bridge partial collapse and 2026 WV demolition-related failure, but no new systemic collapses reported.