National Bridge Inventory: Puerto Rico



  • Of the 2,434 bridges in the Commonwealth, 344, or 14.1 percent, are classified as structurally deficient. This means one of the key elements is in poor or worse condition.
  • This is up from 282 bridges classified as structurally deficient in 2021.
  • The deck area of structurally deficient bridges accounts for 12.1 percent of total deck area on all structures.
  • 41 of the structurally deficient bridges are on the Interstate Highway System. A total of 76.5 percent of the structurally deficient bridges are not on the National Highway System, which includes the Interstate and other key roads linking major airports, ports, rail and truck terminals.
  • 763 bridges are posted for load, which may restrict the size and weight of vehicles crossing the structure.
  • The state has identified needed repairs on 1,756 bridges.
  • This compares to 1,726 bridges that needed work in 2021.

Top Most Traveled Structurally Deficient Bridges in Puerto Rico

County Year Built Daily Crossings Type of Bridge Location
San Juan 1967 261,400 Urban collector Pr 18 3.35 km over Ave. Amer Miranda 1.4 Km
San Juan 1967 183,900 Urban Interstate Pr 18 1. km over Pr 23 2.50 Km
San Juan 1972 183,900 Urban Interstate Pr 18 0.65 km over Chardon Street
San Juan 1967 183,800 Urban Interstate Pr 18 2.6 km over Pr 17 4.0 Km
Carolina 1968 116,300 Urban minor arterial Monserrate 2.6 km over Pr 26 Loiza Exp 13.6 Km
Guaynabo 1971 104,500 Urban Interstate Pr 22 over Pr 28
Catano 1976 100,600 Urban Interstate Pr 22 Westbound over Bayamon & ; Hondo Rive
Caguas 1964 93,200 Urban Interstate Pr 52 18.90 km over Caguitas River
Vega Baja 1995 89,500 Urban Interstate Pr 22 over Local Road
Caguas 1968 78,200 Urban freeway/expressway Pr 30 0.8 km over Pr 796 7.4 Km
San Juan 1979 76,650 Urban Interstate Pr 52 Southbound over Pr 177 8.4 Km
Humacao 1975 60,700 Urban freeway/expressway Pr 30 25.7 km over Pr 60 0.3 Km
Barceloneta 1992 51,500 Urban Interstate Pr 22 over Pajuil Street
Guaynabo 1972 51,200 Urban freeway/expressway Pr 165 36.7 km over Pr 24 0.1 Km
Ponce 1995 50,800 Urban Interstate Pr 52 102.3 km over Dirt Road
Ponce 1995 50,800 Urban Interstate Pr 52 over Dirt Road
Carolina 1965 50,400 Urban Interstate Pr 26 11 km over Pr 190 0.1 Km
Bayamon 2000 48,500 Urban collector Pr 5 over Sofia Street
Mayaguez 1961 45,800 Urban Interstate Pr 2 154.3 km over Yaguez River & ; Urban
San Juan 1977 45,500 Urban other principal arterial Pr 1 15.1 km over Pr 52
San Juan 1976 45,500 Urban other principal arterial Pr 1 15.1 km over Pr 52 0.15 Km
San Juan 1977 45,500 Urban other principal arterial Pr 1 over Pr 18 (Las Americas Exp)
Trujillo Alto 1985 42,600 Urban minor arterial Pr 181 62.0 km over Grande De Loiza River
Juncos 1971 42,100 Urban freeway/expressway Pr 30 Etbd 13.8 km over Valenciano Rv. & ; L.
Carolina 1960 41,500 Urban other principal arterial Campo Rico Avenue over Creek

Bridge Inventory: Puerto Rico

Type of Bridge Number of Bridges Area of All Bridges
(sq. meters)
Daily Crossings on All Bridges Number of Structurally Deficient Bridges Area of Structurally Deficient Bridges
(sq. meters)
Daily Crossings on Structurally Deficient Bridges
Rural Interstate 214 281,881 5,564,830 16 24,228 320,800
Rural arterial 79 209,960 1,088,834 8 18,979 105,400
Rural minor arterial 161 92,858 1,458,037 25 8,721 203,100
Rural major collector 198 73,521 925,723 28 10,869 102,100
Rural minor collector 155 39,297 450,984 28 7,435 86,309
Rural local road 471 143,075 1,448,878 93 13,737 150,175
Urban Interstate 252 538,196 14,726,005 25 95,234 1,555,700
Urban freeway/expressway 115 278,407 4,770,430 9 18,032 410,400
Urban other principal arterial 210 299,573 6,420,033 24 38,086 548,249
Urban minor arterial 176 112,980 2,342,614 31 21,560 458,100
Urban collector 174 101,076 1,729,985 28 9,865 493,600
Urban local road 229 97,455 1,444,955 29 8,285 206,820
Total 2,434 2,268,278 42,371,308 344 275,030 4,640,753

Proposed Bridge Work

Type of Work Number of Bridges Cost to Repair
(in millions)
Daily Crossings Area of Bridges
(sq. meters)
Bridge replacement 261 $146 1,509,991 49,540
Widening & rehabilitation 252 $130 2,126,778 64,377
Rehabilitation 1,208 $2,638 26,019,631 1,185,519
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 25 $169 512,400 73,308
Other structural work 10 $5 93,550 2,179
Total 1,756 $3,088 30,262,350 1,374,923

About the data:

Data and cost estimates are from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), downloaded on June 24, 2025. Note that specific conditions on bridges may have changed as a result of recent work or updated inspections.

Effective January 1, 2018, FHWA changed the definition of structurally deficient as part of the final rule on highway and bridge performance measures, published May 20, 2017 pursuant to the 2012 federal aid highway bill Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Two measures that were previously used to classify bridges as structurally deficient are no longer used. This includes bridges where the overall structural evaluation was rated in poor or worse condition, or where the adequacy of waterway openings was insufficient.

The new definition limits the classification to bridges where one of the key structural elements—the deck, superstructure, substructure or culverts, are rated in poor or worse condition. During inspection, the conditions of a variety of bridge elements are rated on a scale of 0 (failed condition) to 9 (excellent condition). A rating of 4 is considered “poor” condition.

Cost estimates have been derived by ARTBA, based on 2023 average bridge replacement costs for structures on and off the National Highway System, published by FHWA. Bridge rehabilitation costs are estimated to be 68 percent of replacement costs. A bridge is considered to need repair if the structure has identified repairs as part of the NBI, a repair cost estimate is supplied by the bridge owner or the bridge is classified as structurally deficient. Please note that for a few states, the number of bridges needing to be repaired can vary significantly from year to year, and reflects the data entered by the state.

Bridges are classified by FHWA into types based on the functional classification of the roadway on the bridge. Interstates comprise routes officially designated by the Secretary of Transportation. Other principal arterials serve major centers of urban areas or provide mobility through rural areas. Freeways and expressways have directional lanes generally separated by a physical barrier, and access/egress points generally limited to on- and off-ramps. Minor arterials serve smaller areas and are used for trips of moderate length. Collectors funnel traffic from local roads to the arterial network; major collectors have higher speed limits and traffic volumes and are longer in length and spaced at greater intervals, while minor collectors are shorter and provide service to smaller communities. Local roads do not carry through traffic and are intended for short distance travel.

5
Compared to 6 in 2024

in the nation in % of structurally deficient bridges

1. Iowa 19.0%
4. Maine 15.0%
5. Puerto Rico 14.0%
6. Rhode Island 14.0%

36
Compared to 36 in 2024

in the nation in # of structurally deficient bridges

1. Iowa 4,424
35. Florida 360
36. Puerto Rico 344
37. Georgia 263

3
Compared to 4 in 2024

in the nation in % of structurally deficient bridge deck area

1. West Virginia 13.0%
2. New York 12.0%
3. Puerto Rico 12.0%
4. Rhode Island 12.0%
Full State Ranking

Advertisement


  • Source: Data is from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), downloaded on June 24, 2025. Note that specific conditions on bridges may have changed as a result of recent work or updated inspections.

    ARTBA is a non-partisan federation whose primary goal is to aggressively grow and protect transportation infrastructure investment to meet the public and business demand for safe and efficient travel.

  • Privacy & Cookies Policy
Connect With Us

Copyright © 2025 American Road & Transportation Builders Association