Chesapeake Bay Bridge in critical need of repairs according to new NTSB report

MARYLAND – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a report sounding the alarm about 68 bridges across 19 states following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Both spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge were listed as in “critical” need of repairs in the report.

Officials used guidelines issued in 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to make their recommendations. Considerations included the types of vessels traveling under bridges, their speeds, waterway depths, environmental conditions, and bridge design. The guidelines also cover the probability that vessels may go off course, how much damage they may do, and how likely the bridges are to collapse in the event of a strike.

The NTSB found the Key Bridge, which collapsed after being struck by the containership Dali in March 2024, was almost 30 times above the acceptable risk threshold for critical or essential bridges.

While officials say the report does not suggest that each bridge is certain to collapse, the agency recommends that bridge owners evaluate whether the structures meet risk guidelines. The NTSB also called for bridge owners to develop and implement comprehensive risk reduction plans.

The NTSB report also recommended the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers establish an interdisciplinary team to guide and assist bridge owners in evaluating and reducing risk.