DES MOINES – Iowa has the worst bridges in America, and despite Iowa Congressmen voting against funding for repairs, the state is poised to make progress due to the Infrastructure Act.
Data in this new national report is from the Federal Highway Administration and was released by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). It says Iowa has bad bridges with an average of 1,467,476 people crossing them every day. Scott and Polk counties have the most crossings.
Highlights from FHWA’s 2023 National Bridge Inventory Data:
▪ Iowa has identified needed repairs on 14,905 bridges.
▪ Over the life of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed in 2021, Iowa will receive a total of $467.1 million in bridge formula funds, which will help make needed repairs. U.S. Senator Charles Grassley voted yes on this bill. However, Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Randy Feenstra and Ashley Hinson, all voted no, as did Senator Joni Ernst.
▪ Iowa currently has access to $186.8 million of that total, and has committed $29.8 million towards 39 projects as of June 2023.
▪ Of the 23,720 bridges in the state, 4,558, or 19.2 percent, are classified as structurally deficient. This means one of the key elements is in poor or worse condition.
▪ This is down from 4,575 bridges classified as structurally deficient in 2019.
SEE THE REPORT ON IOWA BRIDGES:
