Nearly all of New York State’s bridges require some level of repair, according to a 2024 report by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The study found that 99.46% of the state’s 17,642 bridges need maintenance, with almost 10% classified as “structurally deficient.” The bridges, while not in immediate danger of collapse, have significant structural components in poor condition.
The 10 most deficient bridges are all in New York City, including sections of I-95 and the Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx, along with the elevated stretch of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) at the Brooklyn Promenade. New York ranks 11th nationwide for the number of structurally deficient bridges.
“Usually you don’t want to be at the top of that list because it definitely indicates there are some challenges with the condition of bridges,” said ARTBA Chief Economist Alison Black, who emphasized that a deficient rating does not imply that a bridge is unsafe for immediate use. State departments of transportation, including New York’s, typically implement measures such as lane closures or weight restrictions to ensure safety when inspections raise concerns.
Nationally, Iowa leads in the percentage of structurally deficient bridges, with 20% of its spans in need of repair, followed by West Virginia, South Dakota, and Maine. In New York, the situation has worsened over the past year, with 68 more bridges added to the list of those classified as deficient.
While the state has access to $1.2 billion in federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, only $46.5 million has been allocated thus far. The funds will support over 235 local bridge projects under the Bridge NY program. The state has until 2026 to fully utilize the remaining federal funds.
