'Risk Of Collapse' Evaluation Ordered For GA Bridge

GEORGIA — 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 one in the Georgia — 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 country they say have "unknown levels of risk of collapse" from vessel collisions.

In Georgia, the Eugene Talmadge Memorial Bridge in Savannah was recommended to undergo a risk assessment. Talmadge, owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation, was built in 1991 and is deemed typical by the NTSB.

Talmadge, at 6,034-feet long, honors the late former Gov. Eugene Talmadge, according to the University System of Georgia's archive. The bridge is suspended 135 feet above the Savannah River.

The NTSB advised bridge owners 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 stated.

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