Citation

Barkin R. Am. City Cty. 2008; 123(9): 28-32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Penton Media)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

It is estimated that 25% of bridges in the United States are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The cost to repair or modernize the country's bridges is $140 billion, assuming all bridges are fixed immediately, according to a July 2008 report issued by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). The report cites several factors that affect the cost to fix the bridge system, including age, deterioration, congestion, and soaring construction costs. This article describes how the need to fix the nation's bridge system has spurred the invention of new construction techniques and materials, and cites the Lewis and Clark Bridge linking Washington State and Oregon as a successful example of the use of a new construction technique that resulted in less traffic disruption and realized savings of approximately $10 million.