PHOENIX — After a large cargo ship crashed into a bridge in Baltimore destroying the heavily driven roadway, many people are asking about the safety of bridges across the U.S.
In Arizona, statistics from the Federal Highway Administration say the state ranks the best in the nation when it comes to the condition of our bridges.
Out of the more than 8,500 bridges in the state, 95 are considered "structurally deficient" which is about 1.1%. In 2019, the state had 137 deficient bridges.
But what does structurally deficient mean? It means one of the key elements of the bridge is in "poor or worse" condition.
The Arizona Department of Transportation said the state's relatively dry climate helps bridges last longer before major repairs are needed.
Since last summer, Arizona has committed more than $41 million to bridge projects. That money comes from the national infrastructure bill passed in 2021.
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