As you travel across the bridges in the Binghamton area, you probably take for granted that the bridges are safe. But are they?

For the most part, the answer would be yes. But according to TRIP, a National Transportation Research Nonprofit, seven percent of the bridges in our area were rated poor or structurally deficient, and 55 percent only earned a fair rating. According to the report issued on Wednesday, the bridges throughout the Binghamton area handle on average just over 140,400 vehicles per day.

45 of the 676 bridges in our area were rated poor or structurally deficient. 370 of those 676 bridges have been rated fair. A fair rating indicates that the bridge's structural elements are sound, but minor deterioration has begun. The remaining 261 bridges in our area we're rated in good condition.

Statewide, 10% of the bridges were rated poor or structurally deficient. Binghamton ranks just below the state average at seven percent.

The report actually identifies the bridges in Broome and Tioga counties that ended up with a poor structurally deficient rating. Click here to see the entire report.

In response, a New York State Department of Transportation spokesperson issued this statement.

"Safety is our top priority and the State Department of Transportation has an aggressive bridge inspection program that requires bridges to be inspected at least once every two years by licensed professional engineers.  Two of the DOT bridges cited in the report are scheduled for replacement in the near future, four have been replaced or rehabilitated within the past two years, and two are part of an ongoing two-year contract.  The fact a bridge is categorized as poor condition in the report does not mean that it is unsafe.  If a bridge is deemed unsafe as a result of a rigorous inspection, it will be closed to traffic."

And to see the entire list of bridges with poor ratings in Broome and Tioga Counties, click here.

[via: TRIP]

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