The recent collapse of a Baltimore bridge following a collision with a cargo ship has underscored the critical role that bridges play in the daily lives of Americans. The tragic incident resulted in the presumed loss of six construction workers and disrupted the daily commute of over 30,000 vehicles that crossed the Patapsco River via the Interstate 695 bridge. Additionally, the shutdown of shipments at the Port of Baltimore has forced businesses to seek alternative transportation methods for their goods.
While the Baltimore bridge was deemed to be in satisfactory condition before the collision, the incident has drawn attention to the state of infrastructure across the country. Thousands of bridges in the U.S. are in poor shape due to aging structural components, with approximately 42,400 bridges classified as being in poor condition. These bridges, which are on average 70 years old, carry about 167 million vehicles daily.
