Federal records awarded the bridge 57.4 points out of 100 on its sufficiency scale, which is quite a bit lower than the state's average bridge rating of 80. But a full 759 bridges fared worse in the evaluation.
The Seattle chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its 2013 Report Card for Washington’s Infrastructure on May 21, awarding the state's bridges an aggregate score of "C-." According to the report, almost 400 bridges in Washington are classified as "structurally deficient," and 36 percent of the state's bridges are older than they were designed to last -- 50 years. The Washington State Department of Transportation estimates that before the collapse, 67,000 cars crossed the bridge on a daily basis.
“Washingtonians need to realize that our ailing infrastructure hurts our wallets and our livelihoods," said James Chae, president of the Seattle ASCE, in a statement released in conjunction with the report. "In fact, travel delays cost Washington State drivers and businesses more than $32 million hours a year, valued at over $1.1 billion annually.”
AP Photo/Elaine Thompson
