Screens of the report (server is slow):
Tool links:
https://gis.penndot.gov/paprojects/BridgeConditionsMap.aspx#
https://gis.penndot.gov/paprojects/Reports/BridgeConditionsR...
I wonder if there's a tipping point for American infrastructure and institutions, just like there will be with climate change. There's only so much you can push growth, tax breaks for the wealthy, corruption, etc. and not see eventual repercussions.
https://apnews.com/article/business-lifestyle-681c35ee3afdd4...
Which isn't to say there aren't targeted places we should improve, but I think these discussions often boil down to "everything is awful and unmaintained" which isn't true.
Overall the level of infrastructure across the nation is ok. In some areas the level of infrastructure is catastrophic and local funding probably won't improve it any time soon.
A bridge collapsing is a big deal especially in urban areas. I can only wonder at the luck that seems to have avoided mass casualties in this case.
Have you been to western PA? (Half serious)
Today, the interstate is elevated above another minor highway, in a narrow strip of land between Boston University and the Charles River, which also includes a bike path and pedestrian walkway AND a major rail artery. The viaduct is in need of replacement, and viaducts are way, way more expensive to maintain than at-grade highways. The new plan is pretty impressive: thanks in part to Boston University giving up some land, the planners found a way to squeeze everything onto the ground level, with the two highways, the railroad, and the pedestrian area all side-by-side. It’s kind of a mess to have so much going on in the throat, but it checks all the boxes, and is a more future-proof solution than building yet another viaduct that won’t last.
That project is gonna SUCK for commuters and cost a fortune, but the end state will be a better, safer, easier-to-maintain critical piece of infrastructure that supports cars, buses, rail, bikers, and pedestrians.
MA bridge condition improved over the past decade fairly significantly, about $3bn was spent on the Accelerated Bridge Program that was authorized in 2008 and concluded around ~2017. You can look at the more details and the results here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/accelerated-bridge-prog...
Last year's transportation bill (which passed) cues up various additional infrastructure investment, including another $1.25bn for state bridge work (+$70m for small local bridges), and is projected to reduce the % of bridges in poor condition further over the next couple of years.
There are some nice slides here about where things are projected to go over the next few years thanks to that (11 + 14 in particular). Generally speaking, you can expect to see continued improvement in roadway infrastructure in the state. https://files.engineers.org/file/ACECMA-2021-Highway.pdf
And that was all before the federal infrastructure bill.
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I am less familiar with PA, but AFAIK they hiked their gas tax significantly to raise infrastructure spending a few years back. Whether it was enough or not I don't know. However, as MA illustrates, it takes a while of making sustained investments to start to see noticeable results and dig yourself out of long-term infrastructure investment deficits.