Engineers and scientists report that age and extreme weather are damaging the structures, and there is limited time left to replace them
How many bridges do you cross during your daily commute? In the United States, a new report from The New York Times warns that a quarter of them could collapse within the next 25 years unless repairs to the nation’s highway infrastructure are accelerated.
This alarming statistic stems from various recent studies, primarily concerning steel bridges, many of which are over 50 years old and vulnerable to extreme weather. Heavy rains can erode foundations, but the main issue is temperature. Rising temperatures cause steel to expand, damaging joints and concrete. With 2023 being the hottest year on record since 1850, this problem is urgent.
“We are facing a bridge crisis linked directly to extreme weather events,” Paul Chinowsky, a civil engineering professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, told The New York Times. He notes that these older bridges were not built to withstand significant temperature fluctuations.
“These issues are not typical under normal climate conditions. We haven’t experienced them at this rate before.”
The report highlights Vermont, where 100 bridges have been damaged by heat and heavy rains in just the past two years. Reconstruction efforts go beyond mere replacement; bridges are being redesigned with stronger foundations and more durable materials to better withstand changing weather conditions.
In 2021, a $110 billion infrastructure law was enacted to fund road and bridge repairs. Additionally, $7.3 billion was allocated to states specifically for infrastructure upgrades to address climate change impacts. The pressing question is whether this work can be completed before widespread failures occur.
