I-5 Bridge in Carmel Valley Labeled as ‘Structurally Deficient'

The Interstate 5 span over Carmel Valley Road is in poor condition and deteriorating according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's recently-released 2015 "National Bridge Inventory" database

A bridge in San Diego’s North County is one of the most “structurally deficient” in the state, government Inspectors say.

The Interstate 5 span over Carmel Valley Road is in poor condition and deteriorating according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's recently-released 2015 "National Bridge Inventory" database.

An estimated 245,000 drivers travel along this bridge daily and it is listed as one of the worst in the state.

The bridge constructed in 1964 shows signs of advanced section loss, deterioration, abrasion or flaking and has been labeled as “structurally deficient” by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

“This has an impact on commuters, tourists, school buses, first responders, everybody who crosses these bridges, “ said Dr. Alison Premo Black, ARTBA's chief economist, who conducted the analysis.

The designation does not necessarily mean the bridge is unsafe, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, but means the bridges need to be inspected at least every two years.

The study suggests the bridge should be repaired, replaced or removed.

After learning about the bridge's poor ratings, drivers like Mark Karpman said they might have to find another route.

CalTrans spokesperson Cathyrne Bruce-Johnson explained that any highway or street that is open for travel is safe.

CalTrans engineers inspected the Carmel Valley Road/I-5 span in September 2013 and recommended two items - the replacement of some concrete slabs and some concrete patch work on the deck of the bridge.

When engineers inspected the same bridge in September 2015, those recommendations were still in place.

Bruce-Johnson said she did not have an expected date for the recommended repairs.

If there are any safety issues on any of our highways including our bridges, the route would be closed, she added.

More than 2,500 bridges listed in 2014 are no longer on the list.

There are still more than 50,000 bridges in the U.S. that aren’t up to standard by the study’s estimates and most of those are in California.
 

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