JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore is bringing up the question of structural integrity of bridges across the country. First Coast News is looking into claims of whether Jacksonville's Hart Bridge is 'at-risk' after the Daily Mail posted an article with a graphic which stated the bridge is considered one of the 'at-risk' bridges in the U.S.
THE SOURCES
- The Florida Department of Transportation
- An engineering professor at the University of North Florida
THE ANSWER
No, the Hart Bridge is not 'at risk'
WHAT WE FOUND
The Hart Bridge was built back in 1967 that year is correct on the graphic. The location is also correct, but the picture is not.
According to a statement from FDOT, the agency does not recognize or use the term 'at-risk' when evaluating bridges. Instead, bridges can be considered 'structurally deficient,' which means the bridge requires maintenance to remain in service, or 'functionally obsolete.' Dr. Adel ElSafty said this means the bridge is not built to the newest standards.
"The functional obsolete bridge is basically something that was built in 1930s, 1940s, and all this stuff, so the lane widths for instance, is not according to the specs, the railing is not according to, the geometry of the bridge itself is not according to the current design standards,” Dr. ElSafty explained.
FDOT also says neither term implies a structure is unsafe, and if a bridge is found to be unsafe, it is closed immediately. Dr. ElSafty added bridges are usually inspected every two years. He said inspectors check everything from the roadway, to the foundation of the piers in the water.
"There definitely is a huge budget allocated for bridge inspections. And that is great for the superstructure, for the substructure, and also for the safety measures around that. And that's always been happening," Dr. ElSafty said.
The last time the Hart Bridge was inspected was June 2023. It received a Health Index rating of 96.34.