America's aging bridges are increasingly vulnerable as climate change intensifies extreme heat and flooding, causing them to weaken and fail prematurely.
Coral Davenport reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Many U.S. bridges, built before 1960, are deteriorating faster due to extreme heat and flooding linked to climate change.
- The Biden administration's infrastructure law provides funding for bridge repair, but experts say it's not enough to fully address the issue.
- Engineers warn that without climate-resilient designs, bridge failures could become more common and disrupt supply chains.
Key quote:
“We have a bridge crisis that is specifically tied to extreme weather events.”
— Paul Chinowsky, professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder
Why this matters:
As climate change accelerates, infrastructure designed for milder conditions is increasingly at risk. Without significant investment in climate-resilient construction, the safety and efficiency of transportation networks could be severely compromised.
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