It’s been over two years since the collapse of I-35 West over the Mississippi River. After an initial wave of concern about the condition of our bridge infrastructure nationwide, interest in this area issue has faded into the background.
However, the issue remains. Despite major investments by PennDOT for bridge repair and replacement, Pennsylvania still leads the nation in the number of structurally deficient bridges with nearly 6,000 statewide.
Now, new information published by the Philadelphia Inquirer reminds us that the bridge problem is about more than just roads. Nearly half of Amtrak’s 302 bridges in Southeastern Pennsylvania have elements that have been rated “poor.” While repairs on the bridges continue to be made, there is no long-term plan for sustaining this infrastructure that is vital to the state’s rail plans. Some of the bridges are over 100 years old, and many more are nearing the end of their intended lifespan.
As Pennsylvania makes plans to expand our transportation infrastructure, we should also ensure that our existing systems are kept in good repair.
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