National Group Says Iowa Bridges in Poor Condition

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

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By Dave Franzman

Story Created: Feb 20, 2008 at 5:34 PM CST

Story Updated: Feb 20, 2008 at 6:20 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS- A national transportation group says Iowa bridges need some serious help and more funding.

The report from TRIP, a national transportation research group, was released on Wednesday in Des Moines. The group says Iowa has the fourth highest percentage of structurally deficient bridges in the whole country--trailing only Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Rhode Island. Twenty one percent of the state's bridges are in the deficient category. That's more than 5,000 out of 24,000 bridges.

The report addressed only state highway bridges, but the Iowa Department of Transportation (D-O-T) did not object to the findings. In fact, one top D-O-T official told TV9 the state agency has made the same arguments to state lawmakers for years.

The study listed 100 of the heaviest traveled state bridges with the lowest structural scores. The one that ranks as the worst is on Highway 30 in Tama County and crosses a small stream.

However, report authors and the D-O-T emphasized that structurally deficient does not mean a bridge is unsafe to cross. The state inspects each bridge every two years. Big problems would mean immediate closings or weight restrictions.

Structurally deficient bridges are those now considered obsolete by modern design standards or in need or some repair or upgrading.

The report noted that Iowa is not budgeting enough highway funds to catch up with a growing repair list.

Ralph Russell, President of Howard R. Green and Company engineers, said "the report points out we have more structurally deficient bridges every year. Though we fix 20 or more a year we have more that go on the list and weren't on the previous year."

The estimate for catching up on bridge repairs in Iowa is $257-million dollars. One top D-O-T official this report could serve a purpose if it gives state lawmakers a funding nudge.

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