It has been a week since the collapse of an interstate highway bridge in Minneapolis-St. Paul, but the ramifications from the tragic event are guaranteed to change how bridges are inspected, repaired and constructed in the U.S.
As if almost a follow-up to what took place following the catastrophic Silver Bridge disaster in Point Pleasant nearly 40 years ago — after which federal regulations were enacted requiring bi-annual bridge inspections, even though it was determined such checks wouldn’t have helped at Point Pleasant — states have been rushing to scrutinize bridges, albeit after the fact.
Nobody wants to see anyone put at risk; we’re glad West Virginia transportation officials are literally out as you read this checking on the soundness of these structures.
However, the biggest question at hand is how will funding be secured to address the problems? And it is a huge undertaking.
West Virginians for Better Transportation (WVBT), a coalition working to educate our residents and lawmakers about the importance of maintaining a safe, efficient and modern transportation infrastructure, has issued a rather stark analysis of what is currently happening with bridges in the Mountain State.
Citing a report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, that was gleaned from information provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, it has been determined that 37 percent of West Virginia’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
Nearly four out of every 10 bridges in West Virginia, 2,574 to be exact, have red flags attached to them.
We must also consider these rather staggering figures when it comes to not only our state’s bridges, but road maintenance as well. The average age of our interstate bridges is 34. Typically at age 50 bridges need significant repairs, replacement or reconstruction, and by 2026 nearly half (46 percent) of those bridges will need the aforementioned attention. At the same time, approximately two-thirds of the interstate highways (63 percent) will have to undergo major rehabilitation or reconstruction to provide smooth driving pavement.
The statistics WVBT provided go on, and none of them are really positive. The miles of roadway paved in West Virginia has dropped by 50 percent during the past five years; 27 percent of our major roads are considered to be in poor or mediocre condition, and we lead the country in the percentage of narrow lanes, 67 percent being less than 10 feet wide.
Needless to say, funding the requirements needed just for bridges in West Virginia would run well into the billions. Tack on the road troubles and you can see the daunting task which lies ahead not only for transportation leaders but lawmakers as well.
Former state highways Chief Engineer Joe Deneault, chairman of WVBT, says “serious attention needs to be given by state leaders regarding funding levels” for the state transportation system and “maintaining safe roads and bridges must be a priority.”
We agree on all counts. We also encourage our state representatives in both the executive and legislative branches to take heed.
You should be getting used to our stance on adequate and safe access. It’s been a priority we’ve been championing for a long time and will continue to do so.
Like other issues, it just seems to take a significant mishap of some sort before the focus and real progress shifts to the problems at hand.