Study: Major U.S. bridges at high risk of ship collisions, with potential impact every 20 years.

A Johns Hopkins study reveals that several major U.S. bridges, including the Huey P. Long Bridge and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, face a high risk of catastrophic ship collisions, potentially every 20 years. This risk assessment follows the 2024 collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge due to a ship strike. Researchers found that many bridges, especially older ones, were built without modern safety standards and are now at higher risk due to larger ships and increased traffic. The National Transportation Safety Board recommends urgent safety checks on 68 bridges across 19 states, urging owners to assess and mitigate potential vulnerabilities. These findings highlight the urgent need for better maintenance and safety upgrades for America's aging infrastructure.