On July 24, 2008, the House passed the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act, H.R. 3999. The bill contains provisions to improve the safety of the nation’s highway bridges, strengthen bridge inspection requirements and standards, and authorize an additional $1 billion in FY 2009 for reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System (NHS).
Background:
On August 1, 2007, the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota collapsed into the Mississippi River, killing 13 people. This tragedy brought national attention to the critical issue of structurally deficient bridges across the country.
Indeed, according to the Transportation Department, of the 599,731 bridges in the National Bridge inventory, 71,604 are structurally deficient and 80,793 are functionally obsolete.
This bill takes several steps to improve the safety of the nation’s highway bridges, including requiring a risk-based prioritization of reconstruction of deficient bridges and requiring the National Academy of Sciences to review the process for assigning risk-based priorities.
The bill also takes several steps to strengthen bridge inspection requirements and standards, including requiring the Federal Highway Administration to immediately update National Bridge Inspection Standards and requiring uniformity among states in conducting inspections and evaluations. The current varying levels of standards and processes among the states have led to inadequate inspections in certain states.
The bill also authorizes an additional $1 billion in FY 2009 for reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges in the National Highway System, which are in addition to funds authorized for the Highway Bridge Program under SAFETEA-LU.
If the $1 billion authorization in the bill for bridge reconstruction is fully funded, it will create nearly 35,000 new, good-paying jobs.
Overview of some of the bill’s key provisions:
Improving the Safety of Federal-Aid Highway Bridges
Requires risk-based prioritization of reconstruction of deficient bridges. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to develop a system to assign a risk-based priority to repair, rehabilitate, or replace each structurally deficient or functionally obsolete Federal-aid highway bridge. By creating a risk-based priority ranking, this bill establishes a new level of accountability in bridge repair and replacement by ensuring that states are investing in upgrading those bridges that are most critical to safety.
Requires an independent review of the process of assigning risk-based priorities. The bill requires the National Academy of Sciences to conduct an independent review of the Department of Transportation’s process for assigning risk-based priorities under the Federal-aid Highway Bridge Program.
Requires states to have a five-year performance plan. The bill requires states to develop a five-year performance plan for the inspection of highway bridges and the reconstruction of structurally deficient and functionally obsolete Federal-aid highway bridges.
Strengthening Bridge Inspection Requirements and Standards
Contains several provisions to strengthen bridge inspection requirements and standards. The inspection of bridges is a key to ensuring the overall safety of the traveling public. With over one-half of bridges built before 1964, it is increasingly important that we have reliable information on the safety of these structures.
Requires immediate update of national bridge inspection standards. The bill requires the Federal Highway Administration to immediately update the National Bridge Inspection Standards. It also requires uniformity among states in conducting inspections and evaluations.
Requires annual inspection by states of all structurally deficient bridges. The bill requires states to inspect structurally deficient bridges each year using the best practicable technologies and methods. It also requires states to inspect all other bridges every two years.
Strengthens training and certification requirements for bridge inspectors. The bill requires that all persons involved in bridge inspections receive appropriate training. Currently, there is no Federal standard or training requirement for front-line bridge inspectors. This bill will ensure that those inspecting bridges have the skills and knowledge to recognize deficiencies. The bill also increases qualification requirements to ensure that licensed professional engineers approve the inspection of highway bridges.
Investing An Additional $1 Billion in Reconstruction of Structurally Deficient Bridges
Authorizes an additional $1 billion for reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System. The bill authorizes $1 billion in FY 2009 to reconstruct some of the 6,175 structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System (NHS). These funds are in addition to funds authorized for the Highway Bridge Program for FY 2009 under SAFETEA-LU.
Prohibits congressional and Administration earmarks. Under the bill, these funds are to be distributed by formula pursuant to Federal-aid highway apportionments under the Highway Bridge Program. The bill prohibits any congressional or Administration earmarks to be provided under this program.
Limits the transferability of Highway Bridge Program funds. Under the bill, the funds authorized are not transferable to other Federal-aid highway programs. In addition, the bill provides that a state may transfer Highway Bridge Program funds to other Federal-aid highway programs only if the state demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department of Transportation that it has no bridges on the National Highway System that are eligible for replacement.
