152,000 bridges too far

How many of our bridges need help? Try 152,000, according to the Associated Press:

At least $140 billion is needed to make major repairs or upgrades to one of every four U.S. bridges, transportation officials from states across the country said in a report released Monday.  State officials said bridge repairs are just one element of a pressing need for more federal funding to improve the country's deteriorating transportation infrastructure.  "We need federal intervention, and federal intervention at a big level," Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said after details were released of the report by the American Assn. of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The report cited Federal Highway Administration statistics that 152,000 out of the nation's 600,000 bridges are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. The $140 billion price tag was derived by multiplying the total number of square meters of the problem bridges by the average cost per square meter — in 2006 dollars — to do the work.

Photo: Sixth Street bridge in Los Angeles, which needs repairs. Credit: Los Angeles Times

-- Shelby Grad