The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that 68 bridges, including the Chicago Skyway Calumet River Bridge, undergo vulnerability assessments to evaluate their risk of collapse. This recommendation follows a report released by the NTSB on March 2024, which identified numerous bridges across the U.S. with unknown levels of risk from vessel collisions.
- NTSB recommends vulnerability assessments for 68 bridges
- Chicago Skyway Calumet River Bridge flagged as critical
- Bridge built in 1958, spans Calumet River
- Skyway Concession Company operates the bridge since 2005
- Owners must calculate collapse probability using AASHTO method
- No deadline provided for assessment completion
The Chicago Skyway Calumet River Bridge is classified as “critical/essential” and was built in 1958. The NTSB’s assessment aims to determine if these structures exceed acceptable risk thresholds set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).
The NTSB’s recent investigation highlights concerns about bridge safety following a Maryland incident in March 2024. Among the identified structures is the Chicago Skyway Calumet River Bridge, which spans a critical industrial shipping route. The bridge is currently owned by Skyway Concession Company LLC after being operated by the City of Chicago until 2005 under a long-term lease agreement.
Key details regarding the recommendations include:
- The need for bridge owners to calculate annual collapse probabilities using AASHTO’s Method II.
- If a bridge exceeds established risk thresholds, it will be classified as high-risk.
- Bridge owners must report their findings to the NTSB regarding any elevated probability of collapse.
The NTSB clarified that this report does not imply that these bridges are certain to fail but emphasizes proactive evaluations to ensure public safety. If calculations indicate a bridge poses significant risks, owners are advised to develop comprehensive risk reduction plans accordingly.
This recommendation underscores an important initiative aimed at enhancing infrastructure safety across the united states. By assessing vulnerabilities in critical bridges like the one in Chicago, authorities can take necessary actions to prevent potential disasters and ensure safe transportation networks.
