PENNSYLVANIA, USA — According to the Federal Highway Administration, the last time the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was inspected was back in 2022.
The inspection found no significant issues.
The 47-year-old bridge was listed in fair condition, but experts say the structure did not appear to have pier protection to withstand the crash that sent it crumbling into the water below.
Penn State College of Engineering Professor Ilgin Guler says that even though this collapse was caused by a cargo ship crash, proper bridge maintenance is still crucial.
“It shines a light on bridges and the need to properly maintain infrastructure, not that this bridge was structurally deficient,” said Guler. “Just highlights the importance of bridges to our infrastructure network.”
A 2022 report card on Pennsylvania's infrastructure, put together by members of the American Society of Engineers, says about 14% of Pennsylvania's bridges are in poor condition.
The average age of those bridges is more than 50 years old.
“In Pennsylvania and across the United States there is a larger percentage of bridges that are in poor condition or that there are a large number of bridges that are considered structurally deficient,” said Guler, “So it is difficult for PennDOT or other transportation industries keep up with the maintenance cost that these bridges or even roadways require.”
Guler says a collapse like the one in Baltimore is very unlikely to ever happen in Pennsylvania, but a failure due to lack of maintenance is not impossible.
“Just because of the sheer volume of bridges or the number of bridges in Pennsylvania, it might be a larger concern,” said Guler.