1,000+ Texas bridges rated 'structurally deficient'



Take a look at the 10 busiest structurally deficient bridges in the state.

SOURCE: ARTBA less More than 1,000 bridges in Texas are considered structurally deficient and in need of upgrades including the the Rainbow Bridge that arcs on Texas 87 and spans the Neches River joining Bridge City and Orange with Port Arthur. The two-lane, vintage Rainbow Bridge was completed in 1938. More than 1,000 bridges in Texas are considered structurally deficient and in need of upgrades including the the Rainbow Bridge that arcs on Texas 87 and spans the Neches River joining Bridge City and Orange ... more Photo: E. Joseph Deering, Houston Chronicle Photo: E. Joseph Deering, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 45 Caption Close 1,000+ Texas bridges rated 'structurally deficient' 1 / 45 Back to Gallery

More than 1,000 Texas bridges are rated "structurally deficient" in a new federal report.

But things could be much worse.

According to the 2016 Annual Bridge Report based upon 2015 Federal Highway Administration data, the 1,008 Texas bridges with a "deficient" rating represent less than 2 percent of the Lone Star State's 53,209 bridges. That's about as good as it gets among the 50 states and District of Columbia.

Only Nevada had a smaller percentage of its bridges (1.8 percent) rated as deficient. With only 1,919 bridges overall, just 35 were classed as deficient, according to the report compiled by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

As defined by the highway administration, "structurally deficient" means that one or more of the key bridge elements, such as the deck, superstructure or substructure, is considered to be in poor or worse condition. While these structures are safe right now, they need to be repaired, the association said.

Nationwide, more than 58,000 bridges are deficient and account for about 204 million daily crossings. The good news is that's about 2,600 fewer than in last year's report, but at today's pace of bridge investment, it would take 21 years to upgrade or replace them all, according to the association.

The most daunting situation is in Iowa, where 5,025 bridges are deficient, representing almost 21 percent of the states 24,242 bridges, according to the report.