Decades of neglect and lack of investment have left over 46,000 bridges in the United States in a state of disrepair. To address this, President Joe Biden signed into law in November 2021 the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – which allocates $550 billion to rebuilding key infrastructure. Still, necessary repairs may take years, and each day, Americans make 178 million trips across bridges deemed to be structurally deficient.
Using data from advocacy group American Road & Transportation Builders Association, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most dangerous bridge in every state – or the bridge deemed structurally deficient with the highest number of average daily crossings.
A structurally deficient bridge is one, defined by the Federal Highway Administration, in which any component – the deck, superstructure, substructure, or culverts – is in poor condition. One such bridge was the Fern Hollow Bridge that collapsed in Pittsburgh in January 2022, injuring 10. Here is a look at the state with the most dangerous bridges.
While the bridges on this list are not necessarily at imminent risk of collapse, they all require significant investment to avoid rising to that level of risk or to avoid restrictions of the weight or speed of vehicles crossing.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, most bridges in the United States have an approximate service life of about 50 years – and most bridges on this list are at least 55 years old.
Many of the structurally deficient bridges on this list are on major interstate highways, including I-95, which stretches up and down the Eastern Seaboard, and I-90, which spans the country west-to-east, from Seattle to Boston. Here is a look at the longest roads in America.
Click here to see the most dangerous bridges in every state
Alabama
> Bridge description: I-459 over the Cahaba River
> Bridge location: Jefferson County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1981
> Avg. daily crossings: 99,312
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Alaska
> Bridge description: South Tongass Highway over Hoadley Creek
> Bridge location: Ketchikan Gateway Borough
> Bridge type: Urban minor arterial
> Year built: 1957
> Avg. daily crossings: 17,165
Arizona
> Bridge description: Shea Boulevard over Indian Bend Wash
> Bridge location: Maricopa County
> Bridge type: Urban other principal arterial
> Year built: 1976
> Avg. daily crossings: 48,700
Arkansas
> Bridge description: I-30, Sec 23 over the Arkansas River
> Bridge location: Pulaski County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1958
> Avg. daily crossings: 119,000
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California
> Bridge description: U.S. Highway 101 over Kester Ave
> Bridge location: Los Angeles County
> Bridge type: Urban freeway/expressway
> Year built: 1959
> Avg. daily crossings: 293,000
Colorado
> Bridge description: I-70 over U.S. Route 6
> Bridge location: Denver County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1964
> Avg. daily crossings: 157,000
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Connecticut
> Bridge description: I-95 over Metro North
> Bridge location: New Haven County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1956
> Avg. daily crossings: 136,400
Delaware
> Bridge description: Red Mill Rd. over stream Mill Pond
> Bridge location: New Castle County
> Bridge type: Urban minor arterial
> Year built: 1971
> Avg. daily crossings: 22,887
Florida
> Bridge description: Southbound I-95 over Sistrunk Blvd.
> Bridge location: Broward County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1975
> Avg. daily crossings: 156,000
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Georgia
> Bridge description: I-75 over Swamp Creek
> Bridge location: Whitfield County
> Bridge type: Rural Interstate
> Year built: 1961
> Avg. daily crossings: 66,210
Hawaii
> Bridge description: Kalaniana’ole Highway over Niu Stream
> Bridge location: Honolulu County
> Bridge type: Urban freeway/expressway
> Year built: 1934
> Avg. daily crossings: 58,500
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Idaho
> Bridge description: State Highway 33 over the Teton River
> Bridge location: Madison County
> Bridge type: Urban other principal arterial
> Year built: 1971
> Avg. daily crossings: 22,000
Illinois
> Bridge description: I-90 Express over Stewart Ave.
> Bridge location: Cook County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1962
> Avg. daily crossings: 203,100
Indiana
> Bridge description: I-65 over Ohio St.
> Bridge location: Marion County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1974
> Avg. daily crossings: 186,289
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Iowa
> Bridge description: Centennial Bridge
> Bridge location: Scott County
> Bridge type: Urban other principal arterial
> Year built: 1940
> Avg. daily crossings: 30,600
Kansas
> Bridge description: College Blvd. over Indian Creek
> Bridge location: Johnson County
> Bridge type: Urban minor arterial
> Year built: 1976
> Avg. daily crossings: 21,800
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Kentucky
> Bridge description: I-65 over Grade Ln.
> Bridge location: Jefferson County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1988
> Avg. daily crossings: 166,770
Louisiana
> Bridge description: Calcasieu River Bridge
> Bridge location: Calcasieu Parish
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1952
> Avg. daily crossings: 86,600
Maine
> Bridge description: I-295 Northbound over Route 88
> Bridge location: Cumberland County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1959
> Avg. daily crossings: 27,320
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Maryland
> Bridge description: I-695 over U.S. Route 40
> Bridge location: Baltimore County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1958
> Avg. daily crossings: 188,860
Massachusetts
> Bridge description: I-93 Northbound over Route 24 Northbound
> Bridge location: Norfolk County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1958
> Avg. daily crossings: 193,356
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Michigan
> Bridge description: I-696 over I-75
> Bridge location: Oakland County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1971
> Avg. daily crossings: 209,200
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Minnesota
> Bridge description: I-35W over Cliff Rd.
> Bridge location: Dakota County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1959
> Avg. daily crossings: 92,000
Mississippi
> Bridge description: I-20 over Lynch St.
> Bridge location: Hinds County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1969
> Avg. daily crossings: 26,000
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Missouri
> Bridge description: I-270E over Conway Rd.
> Bridge location: St. Louis County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1964
> Avg. daily crossings: 196,655
Montana
> Bridge description: S Higgins Ave. over Clark Fork River Pedestrian Paths
> Bridge location: Missoula County
> Bridge type: Urban minor arterial
> Year built: 1962
> Avg. daily crossings: 15,552
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Nebraska
> Bridge description: U.S. Route 75 over J St.
> Bridge location: Douglas County
> Bridge type: Urban freeway/expressway
> Year built: 1970
> Avg. daily crossings: 85,640
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Nevada
> Bridge description: I-515 over Desert Inn Rd.
> Bridge location: Clark County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1981
> Avg. daily crossings: 127,000
New Hampshire
> Bridge description: I-89 over South St.
> Bridge location: Merrimack County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1959
> Avg. daily crossings: 51,032
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New Jersey
> Bridge description: NJ Route 495 over Paterson Plank Rd.
> Bridge location: Hudson County
> Bridge type: Urban freeway/expressway
> Year built: 1939
> Avg. daily crossings: 159,000
New Mexico
> Bridge description: I-25 over Gibson Blvd.
> Bridge location: Bernalillo County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1961
> Avg. daily crossings: 117,053
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New York
> Bridge description: I-278 over 15th St.
> Bridge location: Kings County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1962
> Avg. daily crossings: 190,572
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North Carolina
> Bridge description: I-40 over Walnut Creek
> Bridge location: Wake County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1982
> Avg. daily crossings: 118,000
North Dakota
> Bridge description: Demers Ave over BNSF Rail Road
> Bridge location: Grand Forks County
> Bridge type: Urban other principal arterial
> Year built: 1972
> Avg. daily crossings: 18,500
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Ohio
> Bridge description: I-270 Ramp over Ramp I-270 West Bound to state Route 315 Southbound
> Bridge location: Franklin County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1969
> Avg. daily crossings: 143,208
Oklahoma
> Bridge description: I-44 Southbound over Oklahoma River
> Bridge location: Oklahoma County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1975
> Avg. daily crossings: 62,800
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Oregon
> Bridge description: Morrison St. over Willamette River
> Bridge location: Multnomah County
> Bridge type: Urban minor arterial
> Year built: 1958
> Avg. daily crossings: 55,335
Pennsylvania
> Bridge description: I-95 over Fraley St.
> Bridge location: Philadelphia County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1967
> Avg. daily crossings: 202,857
Rhode Island
> Bridge description: I-95 over U.S. Route 6 and Woonasquatucket River
> Bridge location: Providence County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1964
> Avg. daily crossings: 171,707
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South Carolina
> Bridge description: I-85 over Laurel Creek
> Bridge location: Greenville County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1960
> Avg. daily crossings: 119,700
South Dakota
> Bridge description: U.S. Route 12 over Moccasin Creek
> Bridge location: Brown County
> Bridge type: Urban other principal arterial
> Year built: 1954
> Avg. daily crossings: 19,426
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Tennessee
> Bridge description: I-24 over Mill Creek
> Bridge location: Davidson County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1958
> Avg. daily crossings: 167,340
Texas
> Bridge description: I-610 over Houston Ship Channel
> Bridge location: Harris County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1973
> Avg. daily crossings: 171,423
Utah
> Bridge description: I-15 Southbound over state Route 193
> Bridge location: Davis County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1966
> Avg. daily crossings: 130,000
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Vermont
> Bridge description: I-89 Northbound over Connecticut River
> Bridge location: Windsor County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1966
> Avg. daily crossings: 20,734
Virginia
> Bridge description: I-95 over state Route 608
> Bridge location: Chesterfield County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1958
> Avg. daily crossings: 111,000
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Washington
> Bridge description: SW Spokane St. Bridge over Duwamish Waterway
> Bridge location: King County
> Bridge type: Urban freeway/expressway
> Year built: 1983
> Avg. daily crossings: 108,179
West Virginia
> Bridge description: I-64 Ramp B over state Route 25
> Bridge location: Kanawha County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1965
> Avg. daily crossings: 68,700
Wisconsin
> Bridge description: I-43 Freeway over Glendale Ave.
> Bridge location: Milwaukee County
> Bridge type: Urban Interstate
> Year built: 1960
> Avg. daily crossings: 132,000
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Wyoming
> Bridge description: U.S. Route 26 over Flat Creek
> Bridge location: Teton County
> Bridge type: Rural arterial
> Year built: 1969
> Avg. daily crossings: 26,260
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