24 Most Traveled Bridges in Alaska In Desperately Poor Condition
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) says 284 bridges in Alaska need repairing. There are 1,675 bridges in the state and 136 of those are “structurally deficient.”
A “structurally deficient” bridge has at least one key element needing desperate repair.
The number of bridges that need repairing in Alaska seems large. Still, Alaska is ranked #44 in the country for bridges needing repair. Compare Alaska to Iowa, which is ranked #1 in the country, with a total of 4,558 bridges needing repair.
Below are Alaska’s 24 most traveled and structurally deficient bridges by county.
Curious about the highest bridge in Alaska? Read about the Hurricane Gulch Bridge.
1. Anchorage
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Anchorage, AK, has three highly traveled bridges desperately needing repair. The first is a rural interstate on Seward Highway that runs over Portage Creek Number One. This bridge was built in 1966 and experiences about 5,250 crossings a day.
The second bridge is also a rural interstate part of Seward Highway. This bridge crosses over the Twenty Mile River. It was built in 1967 and has about 4,276 crossings a day.
The third bridge is also a rural interstate part of Seward Highway. It crosses over the Placer River Main Cross. It was built in 1966 and has about 3,900 crossings a day.
2. Denali
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There is only one bridge in Denali that needs desperate repair.
This bridge is a rural interstate and is part of the Parks Highway. The bridge crosses over the Nenana River at Rex and sees about 910 daily crossings. The bridge was built in 1963.
3. Fairbanks North Star
The country of Fairbanks North Star has two bridges that need significant repairs.
The first is an urban minor arterial bridge that is part of Minnie Street. It crosses over Noyes Slough. This bridge was built in 1953 and sees about 4,130 crossings a day.
The second bridge was built in 1960 and experiences about 2,600 daily crossings. It is an urban collector that is part of Aurora Drive and crosses over the Noyes Slough.
4. Kenai Peninsula
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The Kenai Peninsula has three bridges that are in dire need of repair.
The first is a rural arterial bridge that is part of Sterling Highway. This 1959 bridge crosses the South Fork Anchor River and sees about 3,490 daily crossings.
The second bridge is also a rural arterial bridge and is part of the Seward Highway. This 1965 bridge runs over the Snow River Center Channel and sees about 1,700 daily crossings.
The last bridge is a rural arterial bridge that is part of Seward Highway. The bridge was built in 1965 and crosses the Snow River West Channel. This bridge sees about 1,700 crossings every day.
5. Ketchikan Gateway
There are five bridges in Ketchikan Gateway that need quick repairing.
The first is an urban minor arterial bridge. It is part of the South Tongass Highway and crosses the Water Street Viaduct. This bridge is from 1955 and experiences 14,046 crossings a day.
The second bridge was built in 1957 and is also an urban minor arterial bridge. It is also part of the South Tongass Highway. This bridge crosses over Hoadley Creek and experiences about 11,900 crossings a day.
The third is an urban minor arterial bridge. It is part of the North Tongass Highway and crosses Ward Creek. This 1975 bridge experiences about 5,250 crossings a day.
The fourth bridge is part of the urban local road Park/Harris Street. Workers built the structure in 1957. The bridge crosses over Ketchikan Creek and experiences about 2,512 crossings a day.
The last bridge is also part of an urban local road. It is part of Water Street and crosses Water Street No 1 Trestle. This 1920 bridge has about 720 daily crossings.
6. Kodiak Island
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Two bridges are in desperate need of repair in Kodiak Island.
The first bridge is from 1980 and is a rural major collector. The bridge is part of Rezanof Drive and runs over Sargent Creek. This bridge sees about 2,790 crossings a day.
The second bridge is also a rural major collector that is part of Rezanof Drive. This 1980 bridge crosses the Russian River. It experiences about 1,770 daily crossings.
7. Matanuska-Susitna
Two bridges in Matanuska-Susitna need repairing.
The first bridge is from 1961 and is part of the rural interstate, Glenn Highway. The bridge runs over Kings River and sees about 1,580 crossings a day.
The second bridge is part of the rural interstate, Parks Highway. The 1971 bridge runs over Hardage Creek and experiences about 910 daily crossings.
8. Yakutat
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The county of Yakutat only has one bridge that needs repairing. The bridge is part of Ocean Cape Road —a rural local road. The 1967 bridge crosses over the Ankau Slough. It experiences about 457 crossings a day.
9. Others
Five other bridges desperately need repairs, though their county locations are unavailable.
Workers built the first bridge in 1985 — it is a rural major collector. It crosses over the Crab Creek Culvert and sees about 1,200 crossings daily.
The second bridge is also a rural major collector, but it is part of the Copper River Highway. This 1954 bridge crosses over the Eyak River and sees about 1,110 crossings daily.
Workers built the third bridge in 1976 — it is a rural major collector. It is part of the Gustavus Airport road and crosses the Salmon River. There are about 1,020 crossings every day.
The fourth bridge is a rural arterial and is part of the Marine Highway Route. The bridge crosses the Skagway Ferry terminal and sees about 947 daily crossings.
The last bridge is part of the rural local road, Ocean Cape Road. The 1961 bridge crosses over the Ankau Slough. There are about 457 crossings every day.
Summary of the 24 Most Traveled Bridges in Alaska in Desperately Poor Condition
| County | Bridge | Year Built | Crosses Over | Number of Daily Crossings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | Rural Interstate — Seward Highway | 1966 | Portage Creek Number One | 5,080 |
| Rural Interstate — Seward Highway | 1967 | Twenty Mile River | 4,276 | |
| Denali | Rural Interstate — Parks Highway | 1963 | Nenana River at Rex | 910 |
| Fairbanks North Star | Urban Minor Arterial — Minnie Street | 1953 | Noyes Slough | 4,130 |
| Urban Collector — Aurora Drive | 1960 | Noyes Slough | 2,600 | |
| Kenai Peninsula | Rural Arterial — Sterling Highway | 1959 | South Fork Anchor River | 3,490 |
| Rural Arterial — Seward Highway | 1965 | Snow River West Channel | 1,700 | |
| Rural Arterial — Seward Highway | 1965 | Snow River Center Channel | 1,700 | |
| Ketchikan Gateway | Urban Minor Arterial — South Tongass Highway | 1955 | Water Street Viaduct | 14,046 |
| Urban Minor Arterial —South Tongass Highway | 1957 | Hoadley Creek | 11,900 | |
| Urban Minor Arterial — North Tongass Highway | 1975 | Ward Creek | 5,250 | |
| Urban Local Road — Park/Harris Street | 1957 | Ketchikan Creek | 2,512 | |
| Urban Local Road — Water Street | 1920 | Water Street Number One Trestle | 720 | |
| Kodiak Island | Rural Major Collector — Rexanof Drive | 1980 | Sargent Creek | 2,790 |
| Rural Major Collector — Rezanof Drive | 1980 | Russian River | 1,770 | |
| Matanuska-Susitna | Rural Interstate — Parks Highway | 1962 | Sheep Creek | 2,650 |
| Rural Interstate — Glenn Highway | 1961 | Kings River | 1,580 | |
| Rural Interstate — Parks Highway | 1971 | Hardage Creek | 940 | |
| Yakutat | Rural Local Road — Ocean Cape Road | 1961 | Ankau Slough | 457 |
| Unavailable | Rural Major Collector — Craig/Klawock/Holl | 1985 | Crab Creek Culvert | 1,200 |
| Rural Major Collector — Copper River Highway | 1954 | Eyak River | 1,110 | |
| Rural Major Collector — Gustavus Airport Road | 1976 | Salmon River | 1,020 | |
| Rural Arterial — Marine Highway Route | 1980 | Skagway Ferry Terminal | 947 | |
| Rural Interstate — Richardson Highway | 1974 | Gulkana River | 880 |
