Last year, the historic Key Bridge in Maryland collapsed after a cargo ship lost power and crashed into it. Sadly, six lives were lost in the incident. As a result, there has been an ongoing investigation into the safety of America’s bridges, and the findings are pretty alarming. While having bridge accidents like last year’s is a bit far-fetched, the owners of these transportation structures have work to do. 

Last year’s tragic Key Bridge collapse has already inspired action 

Following the tragic Key Bridge incident on March 26, 2024, the National Transportation Safety Board has been investigating the safety of some of the biggest structures of this kind. The board has identified 68 bridges from before 1991 that need a “vulnerability assessment.” Specifically, this measure would test the structures’ ability to withstand impacts from large vessels. These bridges are spread out across 19 states and have different owners. 

The bridges in question include some of the most iconic nationwide. Specifically, one is the Golden Gate Bridge in California, and another is the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. After receiving the news about bridge accidents, the owner of the Golden Gate responded accordingly. They said the bridge is “in full compliance with all state and federal regulations.” Additionally, they had already hired a consultant to “conduct an assessment of the South Tower fender system’s structural capacity for ship collisions.”

Although alarming, it’s also important to be clear about the report and the likelihood of bridge accidents like the Key incident. Obviously, the NTSB doesn’t say these 68 bridges could collapse if hit by a large vessel. Still, they do need the evaluation to determine if they are above the acceptable level of risk. Additionally, the Key Bridge has been found to be 30 times higher than the acceptable level of risk at the time of the incident. Of course, drivers use these bridges all the time, which is concerning.

Regarding the Key Bridge collapse, the board said, “Had the Key Bridge’s owner, the Maryland Transportation Authority, or MDTA, conducted a vulnerability assessment based on recent vessel traffic as recommended by AASHTO, MDTA would have been aware that the Key Bridge was above the acceptable risk and would have had information to proactively reduce the bridge’s risk of a collapse and loss of lives associated with a vessel collision with the bridge.”

Finally, the 68 bridges include the following

• Wisconsin: Leo Frigo Bridge
• Washington: Lewis and Clark Bridge
• Texas: GulfGate Bridge 
• Texas: Hartman Bridge (westbound) 
• Texas: Hartman Bridge (eastbound) 
• Texas: Veterans Memorial Bridge
• Texas: Rainbow Bridge 
• Texas: Sidney Sherman Bridge 
• Texas: Buffalo Bayou Toll Bridge 
• Rhode Island: Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge 
• Pennsylvania: Delaware River Turnpike Bridge
• Pennsylvania: Betsy Ross Bridge 
• Pennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin Bridge 
• Pennsylvania: Walt Whitman Bridge 
• Oregon: St. Johns Bridge 
• Oregon: Astoria-Megler Bridge 
• Ohio: LUC-00002-1862 (Anthony Wayne) Bridge
• Ohio: LUC-01W02-0002 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial) Bridge 
• Ohio: CUY-00010-1613 (Carnegie Avenue) Bridge 
• Ohio: CUY-00006-1456 (Detroit Avenue) Bridge 
• Ohio: CUY-00002-1441 (Main Avenue) Bridge 
• Ohio: CUY-00490-0010 (I-490) Bridge 
• New York: Thousand Islands Bridge 
• New York: Seaway International Bridge 
• New York: Outerbridge Crossing Bridge 
• New York: George Washington Bridge 
• New York: Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge 
• New York: Rip Van Winkle Bridge 
• New York: Newburgh-Beacon Bridge (westbound) 
• New York: Newburgh-Beacon Bridge (eastbound) 
• New York: Williamsburg Bridge 
• New York: Manhattan Bridge 
• New York: Brooklyn Bridge
• New York: Verrazano Narrows Bridge (westbound) 
• New York: Verrazano Narrows Bridge (eastbound)
• New Jersey: Vincent R. Casciano (Newark Bay) Bridge 
• New Jersey: Commodore Barry Bridge 
• New Hampshire: Memorial Bridge 
• Michigan: Mackinac Bridge Mackinac Bridge
• Massachusetts: Sagamore Bridge 
• Massachusetts: Bourne Bridge 
• Massachusetts: Tobin Bridge (northbound lower) 
• Massachusetts: Tobin Bridge (southbound upper) 
• Maryland: Chesapeake City Bridge
• Maryland: William Preston Lane Jr. (Bay) Bridge (westbound) 
• Maryland: William Preston Lane Jr. (Bay) Bridge (eastbound) 
• Louisiana: Sunshine Bridge 
• Louisiana: Gramercy (Veterans Memorial) Bridge 
• Louisiana: Horace Wilkinson Bridge 
• Louisiana: Hale Boggs (Luling) Bridge
• Louisiana: Crescent City Connection Bridge 
• Louisiana: Israel LaFleur Bridge 
• Louisiana: Greater New Orleans Bridge 
• Louisiana: Huey P. Long Bridge 
• Illinois: Chicago Skyway Calumet River Bridge 
• Georgia: Talmadge Bridge 
• Florida: Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge (Dames Point Bridge) 
• Florida: Sunshine Skyway Bridge 
• Delaware: Reedy Point Bridge 
• Delaware: Saint Georges Bridge
• Delaware: Summit Bridge 
• California: Golden Gate Bridge 
• California: Coronado Bridge 
• California: San Mateo-Hayward Bridge 
• California: Antioch Bridge 
• California: Benicia-Martinez Bridge 
• California: Carquinez Bridge 
• California: Richmond-San Rafael Bridge