Pa.’s bridges 3rd most ‘structurally deficient’ in US. Here’s why that’s not all bad news.

First the bad news: Pennsylvania’s bridges continue to be ranked among the worst in the nation.

In 2016, one in five bridges statewide was considered “structurally deficient” – 4,506 in total by the count of American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

Only two states -- Rhode Island and Iowa -- have a higher percentage of bridges classified as “structurally deficient.” In 2013, Pennsylvania’s bridges topped the list.

And while PennDOT calculates its bridge safety data differently than the study, PennDOT data indicates Central Pennsylvania’s bridges are in a condition similar to the rest of the state.

Among Adams, Franklin, Fulton, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties, Lebanon County has the lowest percentage of structurally deficient bridges – 9.8 percent. And Fulton County had the highest – 18 percent, according to January data from PennDOT.

PennDOT reports that, statewide, nearly 14 percent of bridges are structurally deficient.

Study: 58,000 U.S. bridges found to be 'structurally deficient'

But there’s good news too.

‘Structurally deficient’ doesn’t mean 'unsafe'

While the term “structurally deficient” does describe the condition of a bridge, it doesn’t mean that the bridge is unsafe to use – yet.

“If we don’t think a bridge is safe, we close it. …If there’s a question about a bridge, we close it,” said Greg Penny, a spokesman for PennDOT.

That's what happened in September 28, 2015, when PennDOT found a crack in the Norman Wood Bridge, which spans the Susquehanna River and connects York and Lancaster counties. The bridge was reopened in early November 2015.

The structurally deficient designation is similar to an auto mechanic warning a customer, explained Jason Wagner, managing director of the Pennsylvania Highway Information Association.

Just as mechanics often pass along yellow flags to car owners such as “Your tires would pass inspection today, but they might not after the winter,” bridge engineers use the ”structurally deficient" label to flag bridges that are starting to show signs of wear and tear.

And just like automobiles are regularly inspected, all bridges are too -- at least once every two years, and more regularly if the bridge has been flagged as structurally deficient, according to Penny.

Penny explained that three critical components of every bridge are ranked on a 10-point system: A score of four or below on any component is enough for the bridge to be flagged “SD” – structurally deficient.

The situation is improving

With millions of dollars in state and federal funding in play every year to help improve Pennsylvania’s bridges, transportation officials see the latest rankings as evidence that the money is working.

According to PennDOT data, between 2008 and the end of 2016, the number of structurally deficient bridges in Pennsylvania dropped 42 percent after the department shifted more resources to bridge repairs and replacement.

Worst Pa. roads? York's got one

“The situation is not being ignored. It’s been an enormous challenge that we’ve been working at for more than a decade now, and we’ve made significant progress, but there’s a long way to go,” Penny said.

Penny said it's no accident that Pennsylvania has fallen in the SD bridge rankings. It's a result of the department's priorities: “Our focus is on maintaining what we have, not expanding it.”

He cited numerous challenges.

Keeping up with bridge repairs is a moving target. Even as repairs are made, Pennsylvania’s bridges keep aging, adding to the number of repairs needed.

A growing number of warehouses in the state increases already high through-traffic, often including heavy out-of-state trucks that take a toll on roads and bridges.

And, simply, Pennsylvania “is a large state with a lot of bridges,” Penny said.

PennDOT replacing bridge near Hersheypark

Generally stagnant federal funding doesn’t help.

Wagner explained that federal aid for highways has been barely keeping up with the pace of inflation for years, leaving little room for help with Pennsylvania’s bridge problem.

President Trump regularly promised increased transportation funding as a part of his campaign. But recent reports -- like one published Thursday by The Hill -- indicate a transportation funding overhaul is unlikely to make Congress' legislative agenda until 2018.

According to Penny, the push for a state-driven solution came after the 2007 collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which killed 13 and injured nearly 150 others.

A 2013 state bill called “Act 89” increased state transportation funding, which is raised through motor vehicle related taxes and fees, like the gas tax.

“Because we were able to get (Act 89) enacted, we took measures into our own hands and did what we needed to do,” Wagner said.

Central Pennsylvania has a number of upcoming bridge projects

According to information from PennDOT, the condition of bridges in southcentral Pennsylvania is set to improve in the next two years.

Bridge linking Pa., NJ to stay closed 2 more months

A rapid replacement program aims to remove 91 bridges from the area’s current inventory of 461 structurally deficient bridges, with the majority of projects scheduled for 2017.

Here’s how that replacement project will impact each county:

• Adams: 16 bridges to be replaced
• Cumberland: 11
• Dauphin: 3
• Franklin: 5
• Lancaster: 31
• Lebanon: 1
• Perry: 9
• York: 15