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Editorial: Nation must prioritize maintaining bridges
To get an idea of the deteriorating state of the nation’s infrastructure, consider this: There are 68,842 “structurally deficient” bridges, and the collapsed Skagit River span near Mount Vernon wasn’t one of them. The fallen bridge was rated “functionally obsolete” by the Federal Highway Administration, which means it didn’t meet current design standards but that it wasn’t necessarily unsafe. A tractor-trailer smacked into a girder, causing the collapse.
The state ranks only 46th in the country for the percentage of bridges that are considered structurally deficient, which, according to the feds, means, “characterized by deteriorated conditions of significant bridge elements and potentially reduced load carrying capacity.”
In Washington, just 5.1 percent of the bridges are structurally deficient. In Pennsylvania, the nation’s leader, 26.5 percent of bridges carry that dubious distinction. The national percentage is 11.5 percent, according to an article at Stateline.org.
An analysis of federal data by the advocacy group Transportation For America shows that Washington state does a better job than most of directing bridge repair money where it belongs. One of the flaws of the Federal Highway Bridge Program is that states can siphon some of the money for other purposes.
Though Washington scores well nationally, some of its deteriorating bridges carry high traffic volumes. Two Spokane bridges – the Interstate 90 spans at Havana and Altamont streets – are at the top of the list of high-volume, structurally deficient bridges. The Rosamond Avenue bridge over I-90 is sixth. The rest are in King County.
The problem for Washington – and the rest of the states – is that there isn’t enough money to meet the needs. Congress hasn’t raised the federal gasoline tax in 20 years. Inflation has eroded 40 percent of its value. Meanwhile, the feds estimate a national maintenance backlog on bridges of more than $70 billion. After earmarking billions between 1992 and 2010, the nation had reduced the number of vehicle trips across structurally deficient bridges by only 2 percent. Meanwhile, many states have been concentrating more spending on new construction, rather than maintenance.
It’s clear that the nation needs to hit the pause button and reassess its crumbling transportation system. Lives are at stake, and so is commerce.
States simply don’t have the money. Washington needs an additional $175 billion to $200 billion to meet transportation needs during the next 20 years. In addition, a U.S. District Court recently ruled that the state must fix road culverts that are inhibiting salmon runs, at an estimated cost of $2.4 billion throughout 17 years. The blocked culverts are deemed an infringement on tribal fishing rights. The state is appealing the ruling.
The nation missed a big opportunity during the recession by not steering more stimulus spending into road and bridge projects. Nevertheless, we still need to make smarter choices on current spending while raising more money.
About 71,000 vehicles a day crossed the Skagit River bridge. Amazingly, nobody was killed when it collapsed. We can’t count on being so lucky the next time.