NTSB Warns of Nationwide Bridge Risks; Maryland Reassesses Safety Measures

A new report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that 68 bridges across the United States, including key spans in Maryland, may be at increased risk of catastrophic collapse from vessel collisions. The warning stems from the NTSB’s ongoing investigation into the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which occurred after it was struck by the cargo ship Dali, resulting in six fatalities.

According to the NTSB, the Key Bridge’s design predated critical safety guidelines issued by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1991. The agency’s analysis determined that the bridge’s vulnerability to vessel impact was nearly 30 times higher than acceptable levels defined by those standards. Despite being equipped with pier protection systems such as dolphins and fendering, the bridge failed under the force of the Dali, a modern containership significantly larger than vessels the bridge was originally designed to withstand.

The report urges 30 bridge-owning entities in 19 states to immediately assess their infrastructure using the AASHTO Method II vulnerability assessment. Of the 68 bridges flagged, two are owned by the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA): the eastbound and westbound spans of the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge. These spans were constructed in 1951 and 1973, respectively, prior to the issuance of the AASHTO guidance.

The MDTA issued a response stating that it is actively reviewing the NTSB’s recommendations and that it has already begun evaluating pier protection systems and vessel transit procedures for the Bay Bridge. The agency emphasized that it considers the collapse of the Key Bridge to be the sole responsibility of the Dali and its operators, asserting that the vessel’s loss of power and control constituted gross negligence. Nevertheless, the MDTA confirmed that it will provide the NTSB with an update within 30 days and is committed to implementing risk reduction strategies where needed.

The NTSB report also recommends the formation of an interdisciplinary team comprising the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide guidance to bridge owners. This team would assist in developing both short- and long-term plans to reduce the risk of future incidents. While not all 68 bridges are guaranteed to be unsafe, their risk profiles remain unknown due to the lack of updated assessments, which the NTSB deems urgent given the increasing size and volume of ocean-going vessels transiting under U.S. bridges.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Maryland Transportation Authority.

---