NTSB Calls for Inspections of 68 Bridges Following Deadly Collapse

The call from the NTSB to inspect bridges across 19 states comes amid heightened concerns over infrastructure safety.

Quick Takes

The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse heightened concerns about bridge safety.
The NTSB recommends evaluations for 68 aging bridges nationwide.
Inspections aim to assess vulnerability to ship strikes.
There is no immediate danger being reported, but officials want to confirm that bridges across the US are within the acceptable level of risk.

Urgent Recommendations for Bridge Safety

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a recommendation for inspections of 68 bridges across 19 states. These bridges, many built before 1991, have not undergone recent vulnerability evaluations. The goal is to prevent potential disasters, similar to last year’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which tragically ended in the loss of multiple lives.

The risk associated with these structures cannot be overlooked, as they play crucial roles as transportation links.

After reviewing past incidents like the Baltimore bridge collapse, the NTSB emphasized the need for comprehensive assessments. The agency recently revealed that the bridge had been 30 times over the acceptable risk level, and that a safety evaluation had been missed years earlier. The potential for such catastrophic failures underlines the importance of timely and thorough inspections. Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chairwoman, stated, Maryland’s transportation authority “would have been able to proactively identify strategies to reduce the risk of collapse and loss of lives associated with a vessel collision” if they had performed a risk assessment.

NTSB recommends 68 bridges in U.S. be evaluated for risk of collapse. See the full list. https://t.co/3m6c4zwPwE

— CBS News Texas (@CBSNewsTexas) March 23, 2025

High-Risk Bridges Under Scrutiny

The bridges targeted by the NTSB include iconic structures like the Golden Gate and Brooklyn Bridges. These bridges, categorized as “critical/essential,” require scrutiny to minimize risks after a ship strike. The NTSB clarified this does not suggest they are in imminent danger, but that there is a need to benchmark their safety against modern standards. While the Golden Gate Bridge already complies with federal regulations, it is engaging consultants for a detailed assessment, highlighting the proactive approach necessary for ensuring safety.

Municipalities have received these recommendations, and the public expects timely action to uphold infrastructure safety standards. The NTSB’s call comes as a preventive measure, spotlighting how previous tragedies illustrate potential vulnerabilities.

You can check out the list of bridges in need of assessment here:

California:

Benicia-Martinez Bridge
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
Antioch Bridge
Carquinez Bridge
San Mateo-Hayward Bridge
Coronado Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge

Delaware:

Summit Bridge
Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge (Dames Point Bridge)
Reedy Point Bridge
Saint Georges Bridge
Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Georgia:

Talmadge Bridge

Illinois:

Chicago Skyway Calumet River Bridge

Louisiana:

Huey P. Long Bridge
Hale Boggs (Luling) Bridge
Israel LaFleur Bridge
Gramercy (Veterans Memorial) Bridge
Crescent City Connection Bridge
Horace Wilkinson Bridge
Greater New Orleans Bridge
Sunshine Bridge

Maryland:

Chesapeake City Bridge
William Preston Lane Jr. (Bay) Bridge (east and west)

Massachusetts:

Tobin Bridge (southbound upper and northbound lower)
Sagamore Bridge
Bourne Bridge

Michigan:

Mackinac Bridge

New Hampshire:

Memorial Bridge

New Jersey:

Commodore Barry Bridge
Vincent R. Casciano (Newark Bay) Bridge

New York:

Manhattan Bridge
George Washington Bridge
Williamsburg Bridge
Newburgh-Beacon Bridge (east and west)
Verrazano Narrows Bridge (east and west)
Brooklyn Bridge
Outerbridge Crossing Bridge
Seaway International Bridge
Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge
Rip Van Winkle Bridge
Thousand Islands Bridge

Ohio:

CUY-00006-1456 (Detroit Avenue) Bridge
CUY-00490-0010 (I-490) Bridge
LUC-00002-1862 (Anthony Wayne) Bridge
LUC-01W02-0002 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial) Bridge
CUY-00010-1613 (Carnegie Avenue) Bridge
CUY-00002-1441 (Main Avenue) Bridge

Oregon:

Astoria-Megler Bridge
St. Johns Bridge

Pennsylvania:

Delaware River Turnpike Bridge
Walt Whitman Bridge
Betsy Ross Bridge
Benjamin Franklin Bridge

Rhode Island:

Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge

Texas:

Sidney Sherman Bridge
Veterans Memorial Bridge
GulfGate Bridge
Hartman Bridge (east and west)
Rainbow Bridge
Buffalo Bayou Toll Bridge

Washington:

Lewis and Clark Bridge

Wisconsin:

Leo Frigo Bridge

A Need for Proactive Risk Management

The investigation into the Key Bridge’s collapse indicates a dire need for proactive measures. Always critical in structural engineering, preventative action remains the focus, reflecting lessons learned from past failures. Collaborations between state and federal agencies are crucial to navigate the logistical and financial demands of these assessments. The NTSB aims to avert future disruptions by conducting these evaluations, preventing potential human and economic losses. The significant focus on infrastructure safety reflects a broader responsibility to protect public welfare.