Unsafe Bridges

Since the collapse of an Interstate 35 bridge in Minnesota, many residents of all states have been concerned about the safety of their bridges and roadways. Pennsylvanians are no different. Each district of PennDOT has acknowledged that it oversees a multitude of bridges that require significant attention.

For example, PennDOT District 4, located in six counties of northeastern Pennsylvania, oversees 2,075 bridges alone. Of those 2,075 bridges, the engineers of District 4 say that one in four, or a quarter, of the bridges need attention.

The acting Bridge Engineer for District 4 has said that the district has a significant number of bridges that need work. In fact, according to the Bridge Engineer, 487 of the bridges in District 4 are actually “structurally deficient.” A good portion of the bridges that have been designated “structurally deficient” are on a list for replacement.

PennDOT is quick to point out that just because a bridge is “structurally deficient” does not mean that it is actually an unsafe bridge. It merely means that the bridge needs some maintenance or replacement. Bridges designated as “structurally deficient” are inspected at least once every other year by PennDOT crews. Some are inspected more frequently, if necessary.

One of the greatest problems facing PennDOT is finding funding to help the bridges get off of the “structurally deficient” list.

Contact a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured due to an unsafe bridge or roadway, you may be eligible to receive compensation. Contact the Philadelphia personal injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams at 215-238-1130 to learn more about your legal options.