While all bridges should be looked at, let's not join the "Bridge Hysteria" club, nor jump onto the blame bandwagon. As has been stated, there are 10s of thousands of bidges in the US in use everyday...here are a list of ones that have failed in the past 27 years due to structural failure only (not earthquake, fire, hit by a barge etc)

April 5, 1987: A bridge on the New York State Thruway near Amsterdam, N.Y., gives way, killing 10 people. June 28, 1983: The Interstate 95 bridge over the Mianus River in Greenwich, Conn., collapses, killing three people.

And that's it. So try to show more itelligence and less herd mentality and not get caught up in "the bridge is falling the bridge is falling"!!!

I have to tell you that this report isn't accurate. The NJDOT has been working for YEARS on updating the bridges that cross the Raritan: Driscoll, Victory, AND YES, the Smith Street Bridge. They've done an EXCELLENT job in updating the roadway there including putting in high speed EZ-Pass.

I also checked a list that the Asbury Park Press was using to scare people and that list too, was inaccurate. It had one Point Pleasant bridge listed as being from 1923 and "structurally deficient."; it's only about 12 years old and nothing is wrong with it. Another was said to be "functionally obsolete" but it's only 3 years old. I just wonder who is writing these reports and if you've actually spent time looking into these facts. This isn't the time to start scaring people needlessly. Your report, however SHOULD have mention the Pulaski Skyway in Jersey. It's ancient and is in need of repair.

Does the percentage next to the name of the bridge mean that's the percentage of how urgent the need is for repairs to be made to the bridge before falls? Does that mean the Metrolink bridge have a 50% chance of falling?

Why does government cost so much? The fixed cost up maintaining what we already have has gone up and increased population means we need to build more.

What will be the cost loosing a bridge? We must build a new bridge from ground up after we pay to demo and haul off the wreckage. Add this these costs, increased commuter times, decreased productivity and who will locate business in a city that is in grid lock?

When we invest in transportation, like world class subway systems, there is a return on investment. Every dollar American spent on the GI Bill after World War II was returned three fold. The GI Bill created a educated work force.

Not only should some of the bridges in the nation be thoroughly checked out, but what about the local "metros" in major cities. I was recently in Chicago, almost had a couple of coronaries. I am 48 years old and have been around the world via ship, train, plane and vehicles on the road. But when walking across some of the bridges along with the metros in the same direction along with inspecting where I was walking, I couldn't get on to the other side fast enough! The infrastructure of this country really needs to be looked at a little MORE closely. Everyone in office trys (or so they say) at looking at making things more safe, viable and work more efficiently, (yes, there are some doubts there) but at the risk of more human life in our own country? Haven't we really had enough in the last 10 years with things that haven't worked the way you would like. Think hard and long about who you really want to run this country the next time you hit the ballot box.

Would like to know what the rating is on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in the Bay Area. It has been undergoing construction for the last 10 years, shakes in the wind. Thanks.

In view of the recent collapse of the bridge in Minnesota, it brings to mind a 2005 engineering estimate of the cost for America to fix our crumbling infrastructure, and it was an estimated 1.6 trillion dollars.
Now, hold that thought: Yesterday, I heard on the nightly news that the Iraq war has so far cost us 650 billion dollars, and it is likely to cost another one trillion dollars before this war is finished.
So, put two and two together, Americans: we are going deep into debt for an endless war. Yet we need the money we are squandering to fix our infrastructure, so that our children and grandchildren can inherit a country in decent shape here at home.
This represents,in my opinion, a colossal failure of our national leaders to set correct social and spending priorities. and we should all remember to single out the politicians who are wasting sorely needed money with their catastrophic policy decisions and vote them out, when we vote in the next election.

I know you are investigative reporters, but do you have to share this information so terrorists can target these heavily travelled bridges?

Remember the nursery song : USA bridge is falling down , falling down ! !

The worst bridge is the "Hewey P. Long" bridge out of New Orleans! It is VERY high and in the Support shapes in the forms of LARGE A's. The road is cantelevered out of each side with little or no support. It also goes over the Mississippi. The bridge shakes because of the heavy traffic and trucks. I normally am not afraid of most bridges, The "shaking" is horrific! This is a VERY OLD bridge. I would not be surprised ikf it went "PLOP" into the river.

Too bad those bridges don't connect oil fields with their refineries - they'd all be 100% and turning a profit for Halliburton by now. Sure, we'll go into debt to china over a questionable misadventure in Iraq, but spending money on infrastructure and education? Forgetaboutit!

Thanks to Ronnie Raygun's and the Republicans for their trickle down economic policies. Voodoo economics at it's finest! Time for a progressive liberal to lead the US out of another conservative mess. If we're lucky we'll avoid another great depression. Who's the next FDR?

I-75 Cincinnati OH/KY bridge. Replace it now!

Subsailor, I think you mean "intelligent", don't you? When a bridge failure like this happens we should look at whether other warnings are being ignored. I could sit here and insult your intelligence but I won't. Instead I ask that you think before speaking and telling others not to "jump onto the blame bandwagon".

There are many structures that get ignored in favor of profit and due to bad leadership that would rather spend the money bombing around the world than maintain the integrity of our public infrastructure. It is perfectly reasonable to ask people not to jump to hysterics, but you talk smug to folks and you won't get much.

Here in Oklahoma, we have been assured by local media, that the I-40 crosstown bridge(approx 4 MILES long) is safe and theres not need to worry. I have been googling said bridge with no satisfactory results, to compare the crosstown to I-35W. At first glance, there are no similarities. I-35W had a massive 485ft span whereas I-40 through downtown OKC has no such span. However, the similarities include, both built in late 60s, both well exceeded design capacities.
The local media reassurance came in the form of, ODOT is very aware of the bridge, and inspects said bridge completely, EVERY SIX MONTHS! To me, it was of little comfort in that the I-35W bridge was inspected regularly, and no imminant threat was detected!
The good news here, though, is I-40 is being replaced now but with little imperative. The silver lining here to us OKIES may be an accelerated schedule to replace I-40. I'm just glad I no longer have to use the crosstown at least twice a day for work any more...

I totally agree Chris...
Like: it's more important "fighting terror" in Iraq (who coincidentally is rich with oil fields) than it is to stop the genocide of innocent people in Darfur. This bridge collapse is only one of many to come "nightmares" brought on by the lack of compassion for the general public except for when it comes to our paychecks. I cannot believe the neglect of the common good, be that global, or here, at home. Then, why should we be surprised? This has been the pattern the last eight years. Out of shock and blindness, we have allowed our government to have their way with us. It is time we woke up and realize that we aren't being protected from the "boogeyman" but we are being raped by the "boogeyman".

Subsailor, you cited only two collapses and stated: "And that's it. So try to show more itelligence and less herd mentality and not get caught up in "the bridge is falling the bridge is falling"!!!"

What or how would you feel if it were you or one of your relatives that had been on those two or the one that collapsed in Minnesota?

Tha fact that any have collapsed, is too many! There is no reason for these to have happened. It seems we can spend over half a trillion $$ for an illegal and immoral war, but we can't even take care of our own infrastructure or the people in this country.

It's time for everyone to wake up and realize the poor shape the past administrations back to Reagan have left this country in!! Quit this interferring with everyone else in the world and pay more attention to our own country for a change. That's what they should be doing and we wouldn't have near the deficit we have now or be in as bad a shape either.

It took two Commets in a short span of time to get the fleet grounded, and begin looking for the REASON.

IF, you can remember or figure out what that statement means, then you will see its clear application to this issue.

BUT, they were British and were high profile which may have made a difference.

AND, there was already a specific organizational department designed for and tasked with and experienced at finding those particular REASONS. Perhaps the NTSB is up to this as well, but do we have to have two?

When bridges are built for whatever reasons let those who benefit from it pay a usage fee for the upkeep, repair, and replacement of the bridges. If it is part of a highway system, then its upkeep cost should be charge to the highway funds. It is our complacency and incompetence of responsible officials that create this kind of disasters. Wake up America!

Funny how you Bush Haters will use any and all issues to mount your assault against Bush. You may be correct if you blame the gross overpopulation (which directly affects the burdens on our roads and bridges) on Bush for his insane refusal to enforce our immigration laws but as far as bridge maintenance goes, isn't it a decision on the State DOT's?