Nearly 59,000 Bridges Listed as Structurally Deficient
There are still 58,500 structurally deficient bridges in the U.S., according to a review of the 2015 National Bridge Inventory database conducted by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

Photo: NTSB

Photo: NTSB
There are still 58,500 structurally deficient bridges in the U.S. according to a review of the 2015 National Bridge Inventory database conducted by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.
The 2015 National Bridge Inventory recently released by the Department of Transportation shows that the number of bridges classified as structurally deficient did drop last year by around 2,500, but ARTBA estimates that at the current rate it will take at least 21 years before they are all replaced or upgraded.
While structurally deficient bridges make up around 9.5% of all of the country’s 610,000 bridges, ARTBA found that passenger and commercial vehicles cross these bridges nearly 204 million times a day.
A structurally deficient classification indicates that the bridge is in need of repair and 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, according to ARTBA. State transportation departments inspect bridges regularly for deterioration as a matter of public safety and use the scale of 0-9 to indicate the current state of the bridge. Structurally deficient bridges score a 4 or lower.
The rating does not mean that the bridges are unsafe, but it is used to educate the public and government officials on the state of their roads.
“Every year we have new bridges move on the list as structures deteriorate, or move off the list as improvements are made,” said Alison Premo Black, ARTBA’s chief economist. “It’s going to take major new investments by all levels of government to move toward eliminating the huge backlog of bridge work in the United States.”
Iowa, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas make up the top five states with the most structurally deficient bridges.
For a state by state breakdown and analysis, visit the ARTBA bridge report website.
More Fleet Management

Color Match Smarter: Tools That Restore & Perform
For fleet managers and collision repair professionals keeping heavy-duty trucks on the road, getting the color right the first time isn't just about appearance — it's about efficiency, turnaround time, and bottom-line results. Discover how today's digital color tools are transforming the repair process from guesswork to precision.
Read More →
FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition
Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.
Read More →
2026 Blueprint for Countering Smarter Supply Chain Theft
Cargo theft is no longer just the cost of doing business. It's a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise exploiting vulnerabilities across your fleet, drivers, and supply chain.
Read More →
How Telematics Improves Visibility, Control, and Performance in Refrigerated Fleets
Explore how telematics help refrigerated fleets improve visibility, uptime, efficiency, compliance, and cargo protection across connected cold chain operations.
Read More →
What the U.S.-Canada Trade War Means for Trucking
Escalating U.S.-Canada tariffs could disrupt cross-border freight, reduce truck volumes, raise costs, and create new uncertainty for carriers on both sides of the border.
Read More →
What Are Trucking’s Top Concerns for 2026?
The American Transportation Research Institute wants to know what's worrying trucking fleet managers, drivers, and other stakeholders in its annual Industry Issues survey.
Read More →
American Trucking Associations Looks for a New Leader
ATA President and CEO Chris Spear abruptly left his job at the association on August 21, at a pivotal time for the trucking industry.
Read More →
Public Wi-Fi Cybersecurity Risks: How Truck Drivers and Fleets Can Protect Their Data
Public Wi-Fi can expose truck drivers and fleets to credential theft, malware, and other cyber threats. Here’s how to reduce the risk on the road.
Read More →
For Nicky Cupp, Fleet Innovation Starts With Frustration
HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Nicky Cupp turns everyday pain points at Fraley & Schilling into opportunities for better technology and smarter processes.
Read More →
Adam Buttgenbach’s Approach to Electric Trucks: Start With Where They Fit
HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Adam Buttgenbach helped PepsiCo build one of North America’s largest EV fleets by focusing on where electric trucks make operational sense.
Read More →


