Data: More than half of Wayne Co. bridges deficient

About 28% of Michigan's 11,072 bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, including more than 55% in Wayne County, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Statewide, 1,295 bridges were rated structurally deficient and 1,754 are considered functionally obsolete, according to the data.

In Wayne County, 78 were rated structurally deficient and 488 are considered functionally obsolete, the data show.

Nationwide, 24% of bridges are considered deficient. More than half of the bridges located in the District of Columbia (70%), Rhode Island (56%) and Massachusetts (52%) are considered deficient.

Wayne, Emmet and Genesee Counties have the highest share of bridges that are considered deficient in Michigan.

Search the databases below to find the number of deficient bridges by Michigan county and by state.

Note: Numbers current as of December 2014.

"Structurally deficient" means there are deteriorated conditions of significant bridge elements and potentially reduced load-carrying capacity, according to U.S. Department of Transportation. A "structurally deficient" designation does not imply that a bridge is unsafe, but such bridges typically require significant maintenance and repair to remain in service, and would eventually require major rehabilitation or replacement to address the underlying deficiency.

A bridge is considered "functionally obsolete" when it does not meet current design standards (for criteria such as lane width), either because the volume of traffic carried by the bridge exceeds the level anticipated when the bridge was constructed and/or the relevant design standards have been revised. Addressing functional deficiencies may require the widening or replacement of the structure.