America’s aging infrastructure, particularly its bridges, is becoming a critical concern. A recent report highlights that nearly 25% of U.S. bridges were constructed before 1960, and their condition has worsened over time. Climate change is now accelerating this decline, making these structures even more vulnerable.
The Strain of Extreme Weather
This summer, the Third Avenue Bridge in New York City, which links the Bronx and Manhattan, malfunctioned during a heatwave, remaining stuck open for hours. Across the country, extreme weather events are causing significant damage. In Iowa, a steel railroad bridge collapsed under floodwaters, while in Maine, pavement buckled due to temperature swings, leading to bridge closures.
Bridges that were already in poor shape due to age are now deteriorating faster because of climate-induced extreme weather. Paul Chinowsky, a civil engineering professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, notes that these issues are unprecedented and directly linked to extreme weather patterns.
Heat and Flooding Compromise Safety
Many bridges, designed decades ago, are not equipped to handle today’s extreme temperature variations. High heat causes steel and concrete to expand and contract excessively, leading to structural weaknesses. Chinowsky describes how this can cause bridges to disintegrate like “Tinkertoys.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has acknowledged the challenges in maintaining bridges, emphasizing that updating these structures takes time. As climate conditions become more erratic, the risks to bridge integrity increase. Research published in *PLOS ONE* suggests that by 2050, extreme temperatures could lead to the collapse of a quarter of steel bridges in the U.S., with significant repairs or closures needed by 2040.
Supply Chain Disruptions and Economic Impact
The consequences of failing bridges extend beyond safety issues. Increased flooding, known as “bridge scour,” is eroding the soil around bridge foundations, causing instability. This issue is already a leading cause of bridge failure and is becoming more prevalent.
Bridge failures are disrupting supply chains and driving up costs. In 2022, a portion of a bridge on Interstate 10 was washed away by heavy rains, impacting trucking routes between Phoenix and Los Angeles. The resulting delays and increased fuel costs added millions to trucking expenses, which ultimately affects consumer prices. Dan Murray from the American Transportation Research Institute notes that such closures can force trucks to reroute by up to 100 miles, increasing costs and contributing to inflation.
Government Initiatives for Infrastructure Resilience
In response, the Biden administration has allocated $110 billion for infrastructure repairs and upgrades through the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. This includes $7.3 billion for states to enhance resilience against extreme weather and an additional $1.4 billion in competitive grants.
States like Vermont are using these funds to build bridges with more durable materials and deeper foundations to handle increased floodwaters. However, these improvements come with higher costs—up to 40% more for flood-resistant bridges—making the process slow and expensive. Jim Tymon from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials points out that while progress is being made, adapting to climate change is an ongoing challenge.
Colorado’s Approach to Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
Colorado is proactively addressing these challenges. After a severe flood in 2013 caused extensive damage, the state now mandates climate resilience in all new road and bridge projects. Civil engineer Hussam Mahmoud has studied how rising temperatures affect steel bridges, finding that extreme heat is causing significant damage to bridge joints. These joints, designed for normal temperature fluctuations, are now overstretched, leading to deformation and increased corrosion.
Mahmoud’s research, covering 80,000 steel bridges nationwide, reveals that smaller bridges are especially vulnerable. Although Colorado is working to incorporate climate resilience into its infrastructure, officials estimate they need five times the current federal funding to fully address the problem.
Challenges and Future Outlook
While some states are making strides in building climate-resilient infrastructure, many parts of the country are still lagging. The task of upgrading America’s bridges is daunting and requires substantial investment and planning. Without significant improvements, the risks posed by aging infrastructure and climate change will continue to jeopardize public safety and economic stability.
As climate change progresses, the need for comprehensive and forward-thinking infrastructure solutions becomes ever more urgent.
