LA Area Leads Nation in Traffic on Bad Bridges

Los Angeles - The Los Angeles metropolitan region has more traffic on deficient bridges than any other area in the country, according to a report released today by a national coalition of transportation and environmental advocacy groups.

The report by Transportation for America estimates that nearly 34 million drivers in the region every day cross bridges found to have significant defects in either the surface or support structure.

According to the report, the region including Los Angeles, Long Beach and Santa Ana had a relatively low percentage of problem bridges -- about 8.6 percent of nearly 4,500 bridges. Pittsburgh led the nation with more than 30 percent of its bridges needing significant repair.

However, L.A.'s large population and heavy dependence on cars means more people drive on bridges officially designated as deficient by the Federal Highway Administration than elsewhere, the report found.

The study, which is based on FHA data from 2010, estimated that an average of about 400 cars are being driven on deficient bridges every second in the Los Angeles metro area.

Transportation for America credited Caltrans for doing a good job spending the federal dollars it receives on bridge maintenance. The state spends about one-quarter of all the federal transportation dollars, compared with a state average closer to 14 percent, spokesman Ryan Wiggins said.

"Caltrans is doing its due diligence. It's doing the best it can with the dollars it's given. It's just not enough," Wiggins said.

Caltrans could not be immediately reached for comment.

Transportation for America is using the report to ask Congress not to decrease funding in a massive surface transportation bill being crafted in Senate and House transportation committees.

The report states that in 2009, governments spent about $5.2 billion to repair bridges, a small percentage of the $71 billion recommended by the FHA. Wiggins said the group is concerned a decrease in funding will further widen that gap.

He said the group also wants the bill to include a new grading system to hold states accountable for spending transportation dollars on the most needed highway and bridge repairs.