Florida’s number and percent of structurally deficient bridges has not only declined dramatically over the past many years, but also is among the national leaders in bridge integrity, according to a report released this week.
Inspections of bridges (generally those longer than 20 feet) are conducted by inspectors and reported to the Federal Highway Administration. In an analysis of this data, Florida’s percentage of structurally deficient bridges declined 15.6 percent between 2007 and 2013. That said, about 259 of Florida’s 12,070 bridges remain in some state of disrepair.
This means 2.1 percent of Florida bridges are considered structurally deficient — far lower than the national average of 10.5 percent among states. Only Nevada, with 1.9 percent of its bridges considered structurally deficient, betters Florida in this respect. Beware of Pennsylvania bridges: 23 percent aren’t in good shape.
Here’s how Florida’s southeastern neighbors fare: South Carolina, 12.3 percent; Georgia, 6 percent; Alabama, 9 percent; Mississippi, 14.5 percent; Louisiana, 13.5 percent; and Texas, 2.6 percent.
An analysis of this data by Governing Magazine found that bridges under local jurisdiction are more than twice as likely to be considered structurally deficient than those owned by states.
