A recent report using federal data states that nearly one out of every 10 bridges in the U.S. is structurally deficient.
Nearly 5 percent of Georgia’s 14,790 bridges were considered to be structurally deficient in 2015, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.
The most traveled of these bridges is on I-285 in west Atlanta.
While some bridges considered to be structurally deficient may not be “imminently unsafe,” they are in need of repair, according to a statement by ARTBA.
The Georgia Department of Transportation told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the state's bridge inspectors inspect Georgia's bridges at a rate "nearly twice as often as mandated by federal guidelines."
"If there is an a scenario where a bridge has become unsafe for travel we will close it to traffic," GDOT spokeswoman Natalie Dale said.
"During the next 18 months, we will replace 118 bridges and repair more than 300 bridges throughout our state," she added.
Top most traveled "structurally deficient" bridges in Georgia
1. I-285 over South Utoy Creek in West Atlanta (Fulton County): 137,730 daily crossings
2. I-75 northbound over Clark Creek (Cobb County): 101,490 daily crossings
3. I-85 over Transco Gas Lines at 5 mi NE (Coweta County): 62,330 daily crossings
4. U.S. 41/Ga. 49 over Rocky Creek (Bibb County): 34,880 daily crossings
5. Ponce De Leon over Lullwater Creek (DeKalb County): 31,650 daily crossings
6. U.S. 280/Ga. 520 over M-87 at the Alabama-Georgia state line (Muscogee County): 31,400 daily crossings
7. Buena Vista Road over Bull Creek at Central Columbus (Muscogee County): 27,180 daily crossings
8. U.S. 80 over Flatrock Creek at N. Columbus Bypass (Muscogee County): 26,920 daily crossings
9. U.S. 129 over Sandy Run Creek at SE Warner Robins (Houston County: 26,910 daily crossings
10. Mcdonough Blvd. over Norfolk-Southern RR at .3 mi E of Ga. 54 (Fulton County): 21,890 daily crossings
See the full list of Georgia's most traveled "structurally deficient" bridges here.
Georgia ranks No. 44 out of all 50 states when looking at total percentage of structurally deficient bridges.
In the past 12 years, 920 new bridges have been constructed while 156 bridges have undergone major reconstruction in Georgia, according to ARTBA.
About the Author
