Statewide Bridge Rankings Released
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 6, 2014
Contact:
Mike Nystrom
Executive Vice President
Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association
517-896-1493
Statewide Bridge Rankings Released
Wayne County Ranks #1 for Structurally Deficient and
Functionally Obsolete Bridges
Okemos, Mich. – Wayne County has the worst bridges in the entire state, according to an extensive statewide analysis of nearly 11,000 state and local bridges released today by the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA).
Wayne County was the stand alone winner, not only for having the highest number of bridges (549) that are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete*, but for also having the highest percentage of bridges (54 percent) that are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete of any county in Michigan.
All of the Detroit-area counties ranked poorly on the list. Oakland County ranked the third worst in the number of structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges with 159, followed by fourth ranked Macomb with 107 and eighth ranked Washtenaw with 96 bridges needing repair. Although Livingston County only has 156 total state and local bridges, the percentage of these bridges that are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete was the seventh worst in the state at 35 percent.
“This report is a stark reminder of what Michigan drivers experience every day – potholes and worn out bridges,” said Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of MITA. “Not fixing our deteriorating bridges and roads now will cost Michigan taxpayers more in the long run. Bad news does not get any better with age, especially when it comes to investing in our infrastructure.”
The statewide analysis (based on Michigan’s 2014 National Bridge Inventory data**) reviewed bridge conditions on 10,929 state and local bridges, of which 1 in 4 (2,843) were either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. While Governor Rick Snyder’s Dashboard and other sources often reference 12 percent of bridges (1 in 8) being in poor condition, the situation is much more dire when analyzing state and local bridges that are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
“Michigan roads and bridges are in desperate need of an overhaul,” Nystrom said. “The only way this can be accomplished is if the Michigan Legislature addresses the need for a long-term, annual, stable source of funding for our transportation infrastructure.”
Nystrom added that given the aggregation of state, city and county data in this report, the county-by-county breakdown doesn’t necessarily reflect the effectiveness of any particular local road agency.
MITA is a leading advocate for increased funding for Michigan’s roads, bridges and underground systems to save lives and money. For more information, visit www.mi-ita.com or www.justfixtheroads.com.
* Functionally Obsolete is a status used to describe a bridge that is no longer by design functionally adequate for its task. For example, the bridge may not have enough lanes to accommodate the traffic flow, or it may not be wide enough for emergency shoulders. Structurally Deficient is a status used to describe a bridge that has a deck, superstructure or substructure with a National Bridge Inventory condition rating of less than 4.
** The Michigan National Bridge Inventory data is collected and maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation in their Design Division, Bridge Management Unit.
To view the and data online,visit www.mi-ita.com.
