Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington and PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll announced that Pennsylvania repaired the most poor-condition bridges of any state last year.
The determination’s data came from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), officials said.
According to FHWA data, Pennsylvania repaired or replaced more than 200 bridges of at least 20 feet in length, resulting in 90 fewer bridges rated in poor-condition, which was the largest improvement of any state in the country.
In 2008, Pennsylvania had more than 6,000 state-owned bridges classified as in poor condition. Since then, PennDOT has successfully repaired or replaced more than 3,000 bridges, and the pace of those repairs is accelerating after Governor Shapiro secured additional infrastructure funding in his first two budgets.
The Shapiro Administration has advanced projects for over 300 state and locally owned bridges so far in 2024.
This winter, County Bridge No. 56, located along Rices Mill Road over the Tacony Creek in Cheltenham Township, and County Bridge No. 44, located along Moredon Road over the Pennypack Creek in Abington Township, are slated for replacement. The process is expected to take 12 months for the Cheltenham bridge and 11 months for the Abington bridge.
This year, PennDOT has improved over 3,100 miles of roadway, including 1,100 miles of paving, and advanced projects to improve or replace 303 state and locally owned bridges this year, officials said.
“Infrastructure is critical to our Commonwealth’s progress, and our ability to complete major projects is key to spurring economic growth and creating real opportunity,” said Governor Shapiro. “Investing in and improving our infrastructure is a commonsense way to spur economic development, create jobs, and help Pennsylvanians reach their destinations safely and efficiently. These improvements will help our communities grow as we continue working together to move Pennsylvania forward.”
Last month, Governor Shapiro announced a significant investment of over $51 million in funding from the Multimodal Transportation Fund to support 66 crucial transportation projects across 32 counties. The funding will be allocated towards highway, bridge, aviation, ports, and bike and pedestrian initiatives.
“Maintaining this network is a monumental task, and while funding challenges persist, we are proud of the measurable progress in improving bridge conditions across the state,” said Secretary Carroll. “Our goal remains clear – ensuring that Pennsylvania’s bridges and roads are safe, reliable, and built for the future.”
“We are grateful to our partners, including our contractors and designers, who help us provide the Commonwealth with a safe, reliable, customer-valued toll road system that supports national mobility and commerce,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “Investing in our infrastructure, and specifically our bridges, is critical to providing a safer driving environment for motorists, highway workers, and first responders. We are pleased to continue that trend going forward through total reconstruction of the PA Turnpike, including the replacement of key bridges at Beaver River and Hawk Falls.”
The 2024-25 bipartisan budget signed by Governor Shapiro this summer allocates $80.5 million in new funding to repair roads and bridges and continues to sustainably fund the Pennsylvania State Police by reducing their reliance on the Motor License Fund.
In total, Governor Shapiro has secured over $300 million in new infrastructure funding to maintain Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges.
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