Some Ohio counties could start losing money if they do not complete bridge inspections.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has sent out a letter to county engineers outlining ways to ensure safe bridges.
Although few counties are past due on inspections, those that are could see the County Engineers Association of Ohio, which administers federal bridge funding, might consider stopping funds.
Another problem is new investigations. New load limits have not been evaluated for ¾ of the state’s bridges while almost a quarter of bridges have not had scouring checked.
The state requires yearly inspections while the federal government only requires inspections every two years.
The subject of bridge inspections grew in 2007 when the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis collapsed on August 1st, killing 13 people.
