The FHWA has said that at least 56% of all condition ratings are incorrect.

594,470 bridges are listed in the National Bridge Inventory (NBI)

150,981 bridges of that population are rated structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, indicating major modification or replacement

The NBI in 1996 estimated repair budget cost for the existing inventory at $168 billion to bring that bridge population to structural and safety compliance; however, this data is 8 years old. The data does not account for the cumulative effects of inflation, the real age of bridges, and the intervening effects of use. Considering overall inflation and added deterioration, 1987’s $168 billion becomes $436 billion today.

Resources:

The Road Information Program
1726 M Street, NW, Suite 401
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 466-6706 Fax: (202) 785-4722
trip@tripnet.org

Federal Highway Administration:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov

Associated Press study of bridges 2/19/01 from AP/NYTimes, updated to 1/1/05

US Department of US Department of Transportation
Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Finance and Innovation Act
TIFIA web site – http://tifia.fhwa.dot.gov