Multiple Midstate bridges in poor condition, new study finds
(WHTM) – A new study found that 10% of bridges in the Harrisburg area, which see about 590,000 vehicles a day, are in poor condition.
The report released by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, found “that while the state has made significant progress in the past decade in reducing the number of bridges in poor condition, deficiencies remain and the progress that has been made may be lost without additional funding.”
According to the report, 151 bridges in the region are in poor shape. Statewide, 13% (2,835 of 22,043) of bridges are rated in poor condition, the sixth highest share in the nation.
The chart below lists the 10 most heavily traveled bridges in poor condition in the Harrisburg area, ranked by average daily traffic (ADT).
“Securing a predictable, reliable, and growing source of funding to repair and replace Pennsylvania’s aging bridges is absolutely critical,” said Dan DeBone, president and CEO of the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce. “This initiative is essential not only for the safety and well-being of our local communities, but also for the prosperity of Pennsylvania’s extensive agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Our businesses rely on dependable infrastructure to acquire materials and, most importantly, to transport products efficiently within and outside of Pennsylvania. Addressing these infrastructure needs today is an investment in the future economic vitality of our region and the Commonwealth.”
The Philadelphia area had the most bridges in poor condition, while the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area had the largest percentage of poor bridges at 22%.
“Pennsylvania’s bridges are a critical component of the state’s transportation system, providing connections for personal mobility, economic growth and quality of life,” said Dave Kearby, TRIP’s executive director. “While Pennsylvania has made commendable progress in improving bridge conditions over the past decade, without increased and reliable transportation funding, numerous projects to improve and preserve aging bridges in the Harrisburg area and statewide will not move forward, hampering Pennsylvania’s ability to efficiently and safety move people and goods.”
You can report the conditions of the bridges you travel on by going to PennDOT’s website by clicking here.
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