Our Decaying National Infrastructure: 215 D.C. Area Bridges Rated Structurally Deficient

Key Bridge, 14th St. bridge among 215 D.C. area spans rated structurally deficient

By Ashley Halsey III, Wash Post

Two hundred fifteen bridges in the Washington region are structurally deficient, including three of the five major bridges that cross the Potomac River into Washington, according to a report released Wednesday.

The group Transportation for America said the Key Bridge, the Memorial Bridge and the 14th Street bridge all need immediate repair. More than 215,000 vehicles cross them on an average day. The 14th Street bridge is scheduled to undergo a complete overhaul in the next four years.

The local bridges were among 70,000 nationwide that were rated structurally deficient by federal, state and local agencies. That means they need substantial repairs or replacement.

“If a bridge is unsafe, it is closed,” said Cathy St. Denis of the Federal Highway Administration. “There’s a common misconception that a structurally deficient bridge is about to fall down. It’s not.”