Bridges in poor condition steadily increasing in Missouri

More than 860 bridges across Missouri are rated “poor” by the Federal Highway Administration.

That number has increased significantly in less than a year and a half. ABC 17 News reported about 640 bridges were in the poor condition in the fall of 2015.

Tuesday and Wednesday, drivers may run into delays east of Jefferson City as crews inspect the Route 50/63 bridge over the Osage River.

All bridges must go through a routine safety check every two years.

“Most of the major items we look at is the bridge deck, the steel “I” beams, or concrete girders and then the substructure which actually holds the beams up,” said Alan Trampe, the central district bridge engineer with the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The Osage River Bridge is in good condition, but about 100 others in the central district are rated “poor,” according to Trampe.

One example is the Route 50/63 overpass bridge at Route J/M, or the Taos Exit.

The bridge is set to be replaced this summer, but it is likely another will take its place on the “poor” list. Sixty percent of Missouri bridges are beyond their original intended life.

“We replace maybe eight or 10 a year,” Trampe said. “But as we go out and do inspections every 24 months, some of those will also get–will drop from a 5 rating to a 4 and fall into that poor condition.”

Even though repairing bridges is costly, Trampe said the number of bridges in poor condition should not increase with the current level of state transportation funding.

“We know that we have an issue with bridges, and we’re working to maintain where we’re at,” Trampe said.

Out of the approximate 100 bridges in poor condition in the central district, nearly half are scheduled for some type of work over the next few years in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

MoDOT is not currently pushing for a statewide fuel tax to increase transportation improvement funds like it did last legislative session.