US agency calls for urgent safety assessments of iconic bridges

NTSB calls for urgent safety checks on 68 US bridges, including icons

Robert Besser
26 Mar 2025, 21:43 GMT+10

US agency calls for urgent safety assessments of iconic bridges

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for urgent safety checks on 68 bridges, including famous ones like the Golden Gate Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, and George Washington Bridge
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said bridge owners in 19 states must assess the risk of collapse if a large vessel crashes into them and, if needed, take steps to reduce the risk
This recommendation follows the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024 after a cargo ship hit it, killing six people

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for urgent safety checks on 68 bridges, including famous ones like the Golden Gate Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, and George Washington Bridge.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said bridge owners in 19 states must assess the risk of collapse if a large vessel crashes into them and, if needed, take steps to reduce the risk. This recommendation follows the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024 after a cargo ship hit it, killing six people.

The review focuses on bridges built before 1991 that are used by large cargo ships and have not been checked for structural vulnerability. Homendy stressed that while there is no confirmed risk, bridge owners need to determine if action is required.

Other bridges needing urgent review include the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida, and several in New York, Massachusetts, and California.

The NTSB said bridge owners should collaborate with federal agencies to prevent collapses. Some bridge authorities, including those for the Golden Gate and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridges, said their structures already meet safety standards.

The Mackinac Bridge authority said it is reviewing the NTSB report.

Other authorities did not immediately comment.