The Bridge: "Structurally Deficient"

By: Tony Maciulis
Topics: Field Notes

(AP/Pioneer Press, LaRose-Chiglo)

Tony Maciulis is a producer for CBSNews.com based in New York.

On federal statistics pages, it's known as Bridge 9340. Early in its 40 year history, it was called "St. Anthony Bridge" for the falls just down the Mississippi River. Most recently, it was just the I-35W bridge.

Last night it collapsed during rush hour in the Twin Cities. At least four people are dead, and as many as 30 are missing as a rescue mission becomes a recovery operation.

In 2005, Bridge 9340 was rated "structurally deficient" by the Department of Transportation and given a score of 50%, the number at which states are to consider replacing a bridge.

Replacement had been scheduled for the year 2020. That was 13 years too late for the people who lost their lives in the Twin Cities last night.

There are 75,621 bridges in the United States that have been slapped with the same label of "structurally deficient." In fact, the I-35W bridge was just one of 1,140 such structures in Minnesota alone.

How many are in your state?

This linkwill take you to the official report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

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by dresser72 August 3, 2007 2:30 AM EDT: As Katie gave the news tonight about bridges, she referred to Wolf Creek Dam in Tennessee as being unsafe. The bridge she referred to is in Russell county Kentucky, not in Tennessee. It is located a few miles south of Jamestown, Kentucky. I have camped at the Kendall Campground below the dam this year but I would have to be in a desperate situation before I would do it again.; Reply to this comment


by PollM August 2, 2007 11:19 PM EDT: We've had the best economic expansion in decades, unfortunately we've wasted all of it on picking fights around the world and never spent a dime on strengthening our home land infrastructure. What a disgrace, the cost Iraq war will me felt for the next 10 years and counting (1 trillion dollars). This is money should have been spent on AMERICA, I hope you agree - let all your politicians know http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=272 shame on them; Reply to this comment