• NTSB faults MDTA for failing to conduct critical risk assessments on Key Bridge.
• Following the Key Bridge collapse, nearly 70 similar bridges are urged to assess vulnerabilities.
• Crash of the container ship Dali highlights urgent need for proactive bridge safety measures.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has made a strong recommendation for vulnerability assessments to be conducted on 68 bridges across the United States after the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last March. The NTSB's Chair, Jennifer Homendy, highlighted that if the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) had performed a vulnerability assessment, they could have identified the risks associated with a potential vessel collision, potentially preventing the collapse that resulted in the deaths of six construction workers who were repairing the bridge that night. The board stated that such assessments were recommended as far back as 1991 and reiterated in 2009 but were not acted upon for the Key Bridge or other similar structures according to ABC News.

The Dali, the container ship that struck the bridge, experienced multiple power outages leading up to the incident, as detailed in NTSB findings. Investigators noted that the vessel lost power shortly before departing the Port of Baltimore, hampering its ability to navigate effectively. It consequently collided with one of the bridge’s piers, causing significant structural failure, as reported by CBS News.

Homendy mentioned during a recent briefing that the NTSB had to develop its own risk data concerning the Key Bridge collapse due to MDTA’s inability to supply the necessary information. This lack of data has extended to many other bridges across the country, with the NTSB calling for assessments on notable structures like the Brooklyn Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. The intention is to ensure that these infrastructures meet acceptable safety standards, given that they were designed before current vulnerability assessment guidelines were enacted The New York Times reported.

The NTSB communicated with owners of the 68 bridges, which include iconic landmarks such as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Mackinac Bridge, to encourage immediate risk evaluations. The NTSB emphasized the necessity of implementing risk reduction plans should any bridge be deemed to exceed the acceptable level of risk established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

As recovery efforts continue in Baltimore, the conversation surrounding bridge safety has gained renewed urgency. The NTSB is committed to ensuring such tragic incidents are avoided in the future through enhanced infrastructure assessments and collaboration with state transportation agencies.

For full details on this critical safety recommendation and the ongoing developments surrounding the Key Bridge collapse, visit the links provided above.