57,000 Crumbling Bridges in the U.S.

We are like a 3rd world country in regard to our bridges in the U.S.

I think the Romans had something when they only built bridges with stone and cement and some of them still work thousands of years later in Europe. Because steel eventually rusts away and when bridges are built as metal along with metal reinforced Concrete it is great when you build it. However, 50 or 60 years or more later like Now, the metal is rusting which causes the cement to crumble in some places or the bases of metal girders that you may not see while driving over bridges are rusting away at their bases especially where it is humid and wet a lot in Eastern or Southern Climates. So, though your bridge you are presently driving over might look okay when you are driving over it you are not seeing what is actually holding it up at it's base. ON some bridges there are metal nets to protect drivers and vehicles from being hit by crumbling cement over their heads.

How did it get like this?

First of all the cost of building materials is likely 10 to 20 times what it was when all these bridges were built. And the cost of labor is also 10 to 20 times what it was when the bridges were built. So, basically it is no longer cost effective to build onto or to repair these bridges in the real world.

So, what happens?

Bridges aren't replaced so they fail one by one and if the bridge hasn't been condemned people often die when bridges collapse if vehicles are on them during or after a collapse.

This is the reality here in the U.S. now.

I think this is also why more and more people fly to their locations now within the U.S. It's likely safer.

Generally speaking flying is about 6 to 10 times safer than driving in the U.S. (at least in areas with traffic lights and cross streets.)

Also the exactly the same thing is true of natural Gas mains nationwide. So, when you see houses or whole city streets blow up one by one nationwide it is also because of aging infrastructure and old old gas mains and pipes nationwide.

Here's the kicker!

Federal Infrastructure spending is down 9% since 2003.