ST. PAUL, Minn. - State and local inspections from last year show that about one in five railroad bridges that pass over Minnesota roadways are structurally deficient.
Minnesota Public Radio News reports that the condition of those railroad bridges appears to be worse than that of road bridges. Of the state's more than 330 railroad bridges that pass over roadways, 71 were declared to be in "poor" condition, and 12 others were found to be in worse condition with "serious" problems.
Inspectors discovered cracks in concrete columns and steel anchor plates, rusting girders and bolts, and holes in bridge decks.
Minnesota has more than 1,300 railroad bridges, but only those crossing over roadways are subject to inspection by the state.
