In the wake of the catastrophic 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling for immediate safety evaluations of 68 bridges across 19 states, including seven major structures in California. The move comes as part of the federal agency’s broader effort to prevent similar disasters involving large vessels colliding with critical infrastructure.
The Key Bridge collapsed in March 2024 after the containership Dali lost power and struck one of the bridge’s main support piers, killing six construction workers. Investigations revealed that the bridge was nearly 30 times more vulnerable to ship impact than accepted safety standards. The incident exposed a glaring need for proactive assessments of bridges with similar structural vulnerabilities.
The NTSB’s new recommendation targets bridges built before 1991 that haven’t received recent updates or evaluations for vessel strike risks. Among the 68 structures flagged for review, California’s list includes the Golden Gate Bridge, Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, Carquinez Bridge, Benicia-Martinez Bridge, Antioch Bridge, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge, and San Diego’s Coronado Bridge.
In San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District confirms that its bridge complies with all federal safety regulations and that it is working with a consultant to evaluate the structural integrity of the South Tower’s fender system, which is designed to absorb or deflect the force of a ship collision. Meanwhile, Caltrans, which oversees several other flagged bridges, says it is currently reviewing the NTSB’s recommendations and will respond accordingly.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasizes that the agency’s recommendations are not based on immediate danger but on long-term preventative action. “These bridges are not on the verge of collapse, but we know from Baltimore that waiting until disaster strikes is unacceptable,” she said.
While the NTSB does not have the authority to enforce the recommendations, it hopes that bridge owners and state agencies will act swiftly. The federal Department of Transportation is expected to offer technical guidance and potential funding support for evaluations and mitigation planning.
The list of bridges also includes major structures in New York, Texas, Florida, and Washington state. Transportation safety advocates have long warned that U.S. infrastructure is under increasing threat from larger cargo ships and aging protective systems around bridges.
The agency’s report notes that the number of large container ships visiting U.S. ports has increased dramatically in the last two decades, placing added risk on aging infrastructure not designed for vessels of that scale. Without proper assessment and reinforcement, such bridges could face serious threats, especially as port traffic continues to grow.
The NTSB is urging bridge owners to conduct vulnerability studies and submit risk-reduction plans to federal agencies. While no timelines have been mandated, several states, including California, are expected to release initial evaluation findings in the coming months.
Sources:
- https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/nr20250320.aspx
- https://patch.com/california/across-ca/risk-collapse-evaluation-ordered-7-california-bridges
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ntsb-recommends-68-bridges-in-u-s-be-evaluated-for-risk-of-collapse-see-the-full-list/
- https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/coronado-bridge-potentially-at-risk-of-collapse-if-hit/509-2bc9fcaa-e96d-48bf-8ab5-ef03c1c4f2cc
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFyPXBIeho8
