National Bridge Inventory: Puerto Rico



  • Of the 2,335 bridges in the Commonwealth, 312, or 13.4 percent, are classified as structurally deficient. This means one of the key elements is in poor or worse condition.
  • This is up from 273 bridges classified as structurally deficient in 2018.
  • The deck area of structurally deficient bridges accounts for 8.8 percent of total deck area on all structures.
  • 36 of the structurally deficient bridges are on the Interstate Highway System. A total of 76.9 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.
  • 809 bridges are posted for load, which may restrict the size and weight of vehicles crossing the structure.
  • The state has identified needed repairs on 1,727 bridges at an estimated cost of $2.7 billion.
  • This compares to 1,726 bridges that needed work in 2018.

County Year Built Daily Crossings Type of Bridge Location
San Juan 1967 246,900 Urban Interstate Pr 18 over Pr 23 (Roosevelt Av.)
San Juan 1972 187,300 Urban Interstate Pr 18 over Chardon Street
Guaynabo 1971 104,500 Urban Interstate Pr 22 over Pr 28
Carolina 1965 100,800 Urban Interstate Pr 26 Westbound over Suarez Channel & Pr 190
San Juan 1979 83,247 Urban Interstate Pr 52 Southbound over Pr 177
San Juan 1967 79,000 Urban other principal arterial Pr 1 Southbound over San Roberto Street
San Juan 1967 79,000 Urban other principal arterial Pr 1 Northbound over San Roberto Street
Ponce 1995 56,400 Urban Interstate Pr 52 over Dirt Road
Ponce 1995 56,400 Urban Interstate Pr 52 over Dirt Road
Barceloneta 1992 55,773 Urban Interstate Pr 22 over Pajuil Street
Guaynabo 1972 47,018 Urban freeway/expressway Pr 165 over Pr 24
Santa Isabel 1972 44,612 Rural Interstate Pr 52 Northbound over Coamo River & ; Pr 545
San German 1964 42,600 Rural Interstate Pr 2 over Cain River
Humacao 1976 41,100 Urban freeway/expressway Pr R over Pr 909
Juncos 1971 38,350 Urban freeway/expressway Pr 30 Eastbound over Valenciano Rv. & ; L.
San Juan 1966 38,250 Urban other principal arterial Ramp Pr 2 to Pr 1 over Pr 2
Salinas 1972 37,900 Rural Interstate Pr 52 Southbound over Majadas River & ; Pr 7
San Juan 1977 33,700 Urban other principal arterial Pr 1 over Pr 18 (Las Americas Exp)
San Juan 1976 33,700 Urban other principal arterial Pr 1 over Pr 52
Humacao 1990 33,600 Urban freeway/expressway Pr 60 over Local Road & ; Mabu Cr
Ponce 1971 33,150 Urban Interstate Pr 52 Southbound over Dirt Road
Ponce 1990 33,150 Urban Interstate Pr 52 Northbound over Pr 1
Juncos 1971 32,050 Urban freeway/expressway Pr 30 Eastbound over Pr 31
Las Piedras 1964 32,036 Rural arterial Pr 30 Eastbound over Humacao River
San Juan 1976 31,317 Urban other principal arterial Pr 177 over Pr 1
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 203 275,602 4,912,187 18 25,474 411,231
Rural arterial 78 210,178 1,247,088 9 9,224 128,585
Rural minor arterial 152 88,943 1,481,622 24 7,509 206,272
Rural major collector 193 72,437 913,541 29 5,536 124,805
Rural minor collector 142 35,633 448,204 24 5,416 76,651
Rural local road 432 124,508 734,314 85 15,014 89,865
Urban Interstate 247 533,319 14,361,694 18 41,187 1,153,021
Urban freeway/expressway 114 278,359 5,130,765 8 17,541 281,499
Urban other principal arterial 210 298,977 6,615,795 19 31,947 497,919
Urban minor arterial 173 111,326 2,347,255 29 21,280 298,050
Urban collector 168 91,629 1,574,964 25 7,481 228,245
Urban local road 223 99,422 897,866 24 8,568 101,658
Total 2,335 2,220,334 40,665,295 312 196,177 3,597,801
Type of Work Number of Bridges Cost to Repair
(in millions)
Daily Crossings Area of Bridges
(sq. meters)
Bridge replacement 246 $156 1,450,832 46,982
Widening & rehabilitation 252 $143 2,471,448 63,946
Rehabilitation 1,193 $2,228 25,861,047 1,192,509
Deck rehabilitation/replacement 25 $126 606,566 73,308
Other structural work 11 $4 90,990 2,169
Total 1,727 $2,657 30,480,883 1,378,914

About the data:

Data and cost estimates are from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), downloaded on February 1, 2023. 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 2021 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.

7
Compared to 8 in 2021

in the nation in % of structurally deficient bridges

1. West Virginia 20.0%
6. Pennsylvania 13.0%
7. Puerto Rico 13.0%
8. Louisiana 12.0%

36
Compared to 37 in 2021

in the nation in # of structurally deficient bridges

1. Iowa 4,604
35. Maine 355
36. Puerto Rico 312
37. Georgia 293

9
Compared to 9 in 2021

in the nation in % of structurally deficient bridge deck area

1. Rhode Island 17.0%
8. South Dakota 9.0%
9. Puerto Rico 9.0%
10. Missouri 8.0%
Full State Ranking

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  • Source: Data is from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) National Bridge Inventory (NBI), downloaded on February 1, 2023. Note that specific conditions on bridges may have changed as a result of recent work or updated inspections.

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