'Risk Of Collapse' Evaluation Ordered For 2 FL Bridges: Report

FLORIDA — As the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation into the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland, the safety administration has identified numerous bridges nationwide that are also at risk of collapse should a vessel collide with them.

As a result of the investigation, the NTSB is recommending that 68 bridges — including two in Florida — undergo a vulnerability assessment to determine the risk of collapse.

The NTSB this week released a report on the March 2024 Maryland incident that documented dozens of other bridges across the nation the agency says have "unknown levels of risk of collapse" from vessel collisions.

In Florida, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge are recommended to undergo a risk assessment. Both are deemed "critical/essential" bridges.

The oldest of the two is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which connects Pinellas and Manatee counties and was built in 1986.

The Napoleon Bonaparte Bridge, also known as the Dames Point Bridge, was built several years later in 1989. This Jacksonville-area bridge crosses the St. Johns River as part of the Interstate 295 Beltway.

The NTSB is recommending the bridges’ owners —which is the Florida Department of Transportation — calculate the annual frequency of collapse for the structures using the Method II calculation from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

If a bridge exceeds that risk threshold, it is considered high risk, according to NTSB. The owners must inform the NTSB whether the probability of collapse is above the threshold.

"Today’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. 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," the NTSB said.

A date by which the assessments must be complete was not immediately clear.