Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/748269
EquipmentWorld.com | November 2016 25 The state ranked 12.7 percent of its bridges as good, 57.9 percent as fair and 29.4 percent as poor. There's a total bridge deck surface of 142.6 million square feet, with 24.3 percent rated SD. Erica Westhuis, bridge data services unit supervisor for the New York State DOT, says lower federal funding amounts and a shrinking workforce lead her to be uncertain as to whether the state will be able to lower the SD/FO rate for next year. "In addition, the environmental effects, such severe weather events, and volume of traffi c in the state tends to increase the deterioration rates on our bridges." 47. WEST VIRGINIA Ranking barely better than New York, West Virginia reported 37 per- cent of its 7,162 bridges in SD/FO condition. SD bridges totaled 17.8 percent of all bridges, with FO slightly higher at 19.2 percent. West Virginia ranked 34.5 percent of its bridges as good, 47.9 percent as fair and 17.6 percent as poor. The state has 41.3 million square feet of bridge deck surface area, with 45.2 percent rated SD. "Legislation to generate more state transportation funding would be a start in improving our bridges," says Kyle Stollings, director of mainte- nance for the West Virginia DOT. "It would allow our DOT to not be as reliant on federal funding and would give us a little more fl exibility and effi ciency in project delivery. Investing in infrastructure would pro- vide an economic benefi t to the state as a whole." For a further examination of national bridge conditions, look for the 2016 Better Roads Bridge Inventory interactive map on EquipmentWorld.com. Methodology C onducted since 1979, Equipment World's Better Roads Bridge Inven- tory is an exclusive, award-winning annual survey that asks bridge engineers across the nation to provide qualitative and quantitative details about bridge conditions. The qualitative data are collected through our questionnaire about major issues concerning bridge conditions and maintenance. In the event a state did not respond to our survey, we used data from FHWA's National Bridge Inventory. The FHWA's explanation of structurally defi - cient and functionally obsolete bridges is available on the Policy & Government Affairs Conditions and Performance section of FHWA's website. The Equip- ment World editorial staff would like to thank state highway engineers for their continuing cooperation to provide cur- rent data, which was collected through October 2016. OPEN THE ROAD LIKE A BOSS. VariTech Industries is a leader of automatic salt-brine production, liquid storage, transfer and mobile application systems. Our automated brine production and blending systems provide an efficient, cost-effective solution allowing you total road control. Long-term savings include reduced operating & labor costs, time efficiencies and increased production. Contact us today! 1-888-208-0686 www.varitech-industries.com/ROADS A SUBSIDIARY OF BaileyBridge_BR0513_PG14.indd 1 4/23/13 9:32 AM