California’s Bridges Need Upgrade, Says New Report
A quarter of the bridges in California require significant maintenance or upgrades, a nonprofit transportation group noted in a report this month.
Eight percent of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient and need repairs, and 17% are functionally obsolete and do not meet design standards, according to the Washington, D.C.-based group TRIP.
“With an economy based largely on agriculture, manufacturing, biotechnology, aerospace-defense, and tourism, the quality of California’s transportation system plays a vital role in the state’s economic growth and quality of life,” TRIP found.
Moreover, the report determined that driving on roads in poor shape costs California motorists $18.3 billion annually in additional vehicle operating costs. Congestion costs California residents $28 billion annually in lost time and wasted fuel. And, by 2030, vehicle travel in California is projected to increase by another 15%.
“Roadway features that impact safety include the number of lanes, lane widths, lighting, lane markings, rumble strips, shoulders, guard rails, other shielding devices, median barriers and intersection design. The cost of serious crashes includes lost productivity, lost earnings, medical costs and emergency services,” according to the report.
