WASHINGTON — The House Thursday approved a bill that would require states to update their highway bridge inspection standards and perform annual inspections of structurally deficient bridges.
The National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act of 2008 details bridge inspection procedures, requires that every bridge be rated on a risk-based priority basis and sets state requirements.
The measure passed by a vote of 367 to 55.
“We bring to the House floor today legislation that will increase the funding for states and the federal government to hire the necessary number of bridge inspectors to raise the standards, make those bridges safer and prevent future loss and future collapse,” said Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the bill’s sponsor.
Oberstar, who also chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced the bill following the collapse of the Interstate 35 Bridge in Minneapolis last August.
“This bill makes much needed improvements to the existing federal highway bridge program and to the regulations pertaining to bridge inspections,” said Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.).
