They say extreme heat and increased flooding caused by climate change have created a growing threat to the safe movement of American residents across the country.
University of Colorado Boulder professor Paul Chinovsky noted that many American bridges are not adapted to the abnormal heat that has been recorded recently. The structures constantly expand and contract due to sudden changes in temperature, which contributes to their wear and tear. “It is so hot that the elements that support the concrete and steel structures of these bridges can literally fall apart like toys,” the expert noted.
The NYT notes that extreme temperatures could cause one in four American steel bridges to collapse by 2050, according to research. At the same time, large-scale repairs and bridge closures will be necessary by 2040.
The administration of US President Joe Biden has attempted to address this problem. The 2021 infrastructure bill provided $110 billion in funding for the repair and construction of roads and bridges. The legislation included a “groundbreaking” PROTECT program aimed at making facilities more resilient to extreme weather conditions.
At the same time, North Dakota bridge engineer Jason Thorenson noted that his state receives about $45 million a year from the PROTECT program, but expressed doubts that these funds are being used to solve the original problem associated with climate change, rather than its consequences.
