Risks and costs of heavier trucks on U.S. bridges

According to a recent study, heavier trucks on the roads could result in severe damage to local bridges across the country.

U.S. bridges are at risk, and the culprits are heavy trucks. According to a recent study published by the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT), proposals from Congress to allow heavier trucks on the roads could result in severe damage to local bridges across the country if they are enacted into law.

Kevan Stone, the executive director of the National Association of County Engineers, stated that the report should serve as a warning to halt the proposals currently being considered in Congress to allow heavier trucks to cross bridges. “The cost to counties and taxpayers would simply be too great,“ Stone added.

In recent years, Congress has attempted to increase the weight limit for trucks to 91,000 pounds. However, CABT warns that this increase could have devastating effects on local bridges across the country, putting their integrity and safety at risk.

Increasing truck weight puts local bridges in danger

The study was conducted in collaboration with infrastructure experts from counties across the country, using the most recent data on the physical condition of bridges and the costs of their replacement. The research incorporated a methodology developed with local officials, including engineers responsible for designing, maintaining, and inspecting these bridges.

According to the study’s findings, if Congress allows heavier trucks on the roads, between 65,157 and 82,457 local bridges nationwide would be at risk, depending on the proposed vehicle configurations. The cost of replacing these bridges could range from $70.5 billion to $98.5 billion, reflecting an increase from the 2023 estimate of between $54.6 billion and $78.4 billion. This increase is mainly due to the rising costs of bridge replacement.

The bridges at risk represent a significant portion of the country’s infrastructure, especially those located on local roads and highways that are crucial for daily transportation and commerce. CABT warned that bridges in all 50 states would be affected if any of the legislative proposals from Congress were enacted into law.

States facing higher costs

CABT, which includes the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), argues that raising truck size limits will only exacerbate the already existing infrastructure crisis in the U.S. The states with the highest potential bridge replacement costs are:

Arkansas
California
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Kansas
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Missouri
New Jersey
Ohio
Oregon
Virginia
Washington

In addition to the costs, some bridges’ dimensions and locations pose a risk to truck drivers. Among the most dangerous bridges in the U.S., challenging truck drivers, are the following:

Astoria-Megler Bridge, between Oregon and Washington
Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Florida
Huey P. Long Bridge, Louisiana
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Maryland

CABT’s study highlights the long-term effects that heavy truck traffic could have on bridges. However, prohibiting trucks from using certain bridges would disrupt the functioning of road transportation, potentially resulting in higher costs for the sector. Without a doubt, this underscores the lack of infrastructure and legislation that adequately supports the trucking industry.