NJ Not Fixing Its Bridges Fast Enough

New Jersey still has some of the worst bridges in the nation, according to a new report. Across the state, 544 bridges are considered structurally deficient, 8.1 percent of the state’s 6,746 bridges. The report by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association found that another 2,300 bridges are considered in need of repair, and fixing all of them would cost $7 billion.

“Our broken bridges are part of the price we are paying for years of inadequate funding of the Transportation Trust Fund. Even now that the TTF is funded with the gas tax increase we still are not making fast enough progress. After 20 years of neglect it could take the same amount of time to catch up. We are on a treadmill going nowhere fast. Structurally deficient bridges could be shut down at any time for repairs. As those bridges close or lanes are shut down people are stuck in traffic longer, creating more congestion. Commuters need to detour to get to work, harmful emissions increase and their cars are getting damaged from potholes from roads that are also in disrepair. It costs people money to fix their cars and causes them to be late due to traffic delays. Our lack of investment in our bridges hurts the economy and the environment,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

The good news in the report is that the number of structurally deficient bridges is slightly down from 570 bridges five years ago. New Jersey now ranks 23^rd in the nation in its percentage of deficient bridges. A structurally deficient bridge means that at least one element is considered in poor condition or worse.

“We are fixing some of our bridges, but as soon as one gets repaired another goes on the list. We can’t keep up. We just don’t have enough money to make up for all of those years of neglecting our bridges, roads and mass transit. The TTF relies on the gas tax, and people are driving less and using less gasoline, placing even more pressure on future increases to maintain transportation funding that already is insufficient,” said Tittel.

A structurally deficient bridge means that at least one element is considered in poor condition or worse. While officials emphasize that the bridges are not dangerous, they can be shut down at short notice for emergency repairs.

“New Jersey needs to spend more money on fixing our dilapidated bridges. One closed bridge in a crucial area can create miles of gridlock. We also need to be spending our money on fixing our roads and improving public transportation. The new report shows some progress on repairing our bridge, but not nearly enough. The state needs to speed up its repair work,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.