520, I-90 make list of ‘structurally deficient’ bridges
Apr 2, 2015, 6:13 AM | Updated: 6:26 am
Both the 520 and I-90 bridges are structurally deficient, according to a new national study. (AP)
(AP)
A new study of the nation’s bridges shows 5 percent of Washington’s bridges are structurally deficient. Both the 520 and I-90 bridges fall into that classification.
According to analysis from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, our state has 382, out of 8,120 bridges, that have key elements – deck, substructure, or superstructure – in poor or worse condition. Another 1,711 bridges, or 21 percent, are classified as functionally obsolete, which means they don’t meet current design practices.
The state has said all of the bridges are safe and that being on this list doesn’t mean they are at risk of collapsing.
Washington has built more than 700 new bridges over the last 11 years. Another 140 have undergone major reconstruction.
The study points out that it would cost the state nearly $54 billion to fix a total of 5,802 bridges.
KIRO Radio’s Chris Sullivan contributed to this report.
