Many U.S. Bridges are in Tough Shape and are reported to be in need of Repair

More than 63,000 bridges across the United States are in urgent need of repair, with most of the aging, structurally compromised structures part of the interstate highway system, an analysis of recent federal data has found.

Cars are seen in the water as a span of highway bridge sits in 

the Skagit River May 24, 2013 after collapsing near the town 

of Mt Vernon, Washington late Thursday.

Credit: Reuters/Cliff DesPeaux

The report, released on Thursday by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, warned that the dangerous bridges are used some 250 million times a day by trucks, school buses, passenger cars and other vehicles. 

The group, which represents the U.S. transportation construction market, analyzed recent U.S. Department of Transportation data for its study. 

Pennsylvania led the list of structurally deficient bridges, with 5,218, followed by Iowa, Oklahoma, Missouri and California. 

Nevada, Delaware, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii had the least.

CLICK HERE to open the ARTBA interactive map

Overall, there are more than 607,000 bridges in the United States, according to the DOT's Federal Highway Administration, and most are more than 40 years old. 

The Transportation Department routinely inspects bridges and rates them on a scale of zero to nine. Bridges receiving a grade of four or below are considered structurally deficient, and now account for more than 10 percent of all bridges.

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