NTSB Recommends 68 Bridges Be Evaluated for Risk of Collapse - Newport Bridge Made the List

NTSB Recommends 68 Bridges Be Evaluated for Risk of Collapse - Newport Bridge Made the List

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) this week recommended that 30 owners of 68 bridges across 19 states conduct a "vulnerability assessment" to determine the risk of bridge collapse from a vessel collision, as part of the ongoing investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.

And Newport Bridge made the list. 

The NTSB found that the Key Bridge, which collapsed after being struck by the containership Dali on March 26, 2024, was almost 30 times above the acceptable risk threshold for critical or essential bridges, according to guidance established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO.

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Over the last year, the NTSB identified 68 bridges that were designed before the AASHTO guidance was established — like the Key Bridge — that do not have a current vulnerability assessment. The recommendations are issued to bridge owners to calculate the annual frequency of collapse for their bridges using AASHTO’s Method II calculation.

According to NTSB, this week's report does not suggest that the 68 bridges are certain to collapse. The NTSB is recommending that these 30 bridge owners evaluate whether the bridges are above the AASHTO acceptable level of risk. 

Further, the NTSB recommended that bridge owners develop and implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan, if the calculations indicate a bridge has a risk level above the AASHTO threshold.