How safe are New Jersey's bridges?
State transportation officials say our state-owned bridges are in good shape. Only 12 percent are deemed structurally deficient and only two are deemed deficient enough to have "load posted" weight restrictions - the Pulaski Skyway and the Route 52 causeway in Ocean City.
Damien Newton, New Jersey coordinator of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said in today's Press ("Gov seeks complete report on N.J. spans,") that New Jersey spends more on bridge and road repairs than any other state. "No other state is close," he said.
But the state's figures on structurally deficient bridges are different than those provided in the Reason Foundation's annual Highway Performance Report which was released in June. According to that report, which used 2005 figures, 27.9 percent of New Jersey's bridges were deficient, ranking the state 35th worst nationally. Nevada had the best record, with only 3.8 percent deficient.
If you have a choice, don't cross any bridges in Rhode Island or Pennsylvania. More than half are deficient in Rhode Island and 39 percent are deficient in Pennsylvania. New York isn't far behind at 37 percent.
Damien Newton, New Jersey coordinator of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said in today's Press ("Gov seeks complete report on N.J. spans,") that New Jersey spends more on bridge and road repairs than any other state. "No other state is close," he said.
But the state's figures on structurally deficient bridges are different than those provided in the Reason Foundation's annual Highway Performance Report which was released in June. According to that report, which used 2005 figures, 27.9 percent of New Jersey's bridges were deficient, ranking the state 35th worst nationally. Nevada had the best record, with only 3.8 percent deficient.
If you have a choice, don't cross any bridges in Rhode Island or Pennsylvania. More than half are deficient in Rhode Island and 39 percent are deficient in Pennsylvania. New York isn't far behind at 37 percent.
posted by Randy Bergmann at 2:35 PM
3 Comments:
Read what you just said..."if you have a choice, don't cross any bridges in Rhode Island or Pennsylvania." Thanks for the warning, but obviously that is not the answer.
I hope that each state takes responsibility for fixing their bridges, so this country's people can travel without so much concern or fear of getting from point A to point B.
I just saw on Good Morning America that there are these credit card size components that cost about ONE DOLLAR EACH that can be fitted on any area of a bridge and it can relay structural information (whether there is damage or not) to bridge engineers. I hope all states with bridge problems start investing NOW in these do-hickys for the sake of traveller safety!!
Margaret
I would think this will all but kill the selling of our roads and bridges
I trust every engineer and politician that tells me the bridges are safe to cross.Oh by the way would you like to take a ride in my flying car?
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