Ten percent of Rochester-area bridges deemed poor, structurally deficient in new report

Rochester, N.Y. – Ten percent of bridges in the Rochester area are rated in poor or structurally deficient condition and need repair, according to a new report released Tuesday.

The report, from transportation research non-profit TRIP found more than 120 bridges in our area had “significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components.”

Those local bridges carry more than one million vehicles per day.

About 50 percent of area bridges were rated in fair condition, while about 41 percent were rated in good condition.

Across New York, about 10 percent of bridges were rated poor or structurally deficient. Thirty-seven percent were rated as good, and 53 percent were rated as fair.

Among the bridges in the Rochester area labeled heavily-traveled/poor or structurally deficient are the Route 590 bridge over South Clinton Avenue in Brighton, the Route 490 bridge over the Erie Canal in Perinton and the Route 390 bridge over Trolley Boulevard in Gates.

The full report can be read here.

Researchers are calling for the state to “modernize its transportation system by improving the physical condition of its bridges” and warn that, “Without a substantial boost in federal, state and local funding, numerous projects to improve and preserve New York’s bridges will not be able to proceed, hampering the state’s ability to improve the condition of its transportation system and to support economic development opportunities.”

In a statement, TRIP Executive Director Will Wilkins said, “Without increased and reliable transportation funding, numerous projects to improve and preserve aging bridges in the Rochester area and statewide will not move forward, hampering New York’s ability to efficiently and safely move people and goods.”

In a statement, the State DOT emphasized its commitment to safety, and said any bridges that were deemed to be unsafe after inspections, they would be closed.

"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," the DOT's statement read. "The majority of the structures featured in the recent report for the Rochester region have been either repaired or replaced in the last two years, are currently under construction or are programmed for repairs. 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.”