Climate change hastens the deterioration of US bridges

America's aging bridges are increasingly vulnerable as climate change intensifies extreme heat and flooding, causing them to weaken and fail prematurely.

Coral Davenport reports for The New York Times.

In short:

• Many U.S. bridges, built before 1960, are deteriorating faster due to extreme heat and flooding linked to climate change.
• The Biden administration's infrastructure law provides funding for bridge repair, but experts say it's not enough to fully address the issue.
• Engineers warn that without climate-resilient designs, bridge failures could become more common and disrupt supply chains.

Key quote:

“We have a bridge crisis that is specifically tied to extreme weather events.”

— Paul Chinowsky, professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder

Why this matters:

As climate change accelerates, infrastructure designed for milder conditions is increasingly at risk. Without significant investment in climate-resilient construction, the safety and efficiency of transportation networks could be severely compromised.

Related:

• Old age, neglect and a changing climate are rendering US dams dangerous
• Heat is threatening the integrity of America’s infrastructure
• Extreme heat is damaging America's transportation infrastructure