20 Minnesota Counties With the Most Bridges in Dire Need of Repair

Minnesotans are well aware of the devastation the catastrophic failure of a major bridge can cause. On August 1st, 2007, with 111 cars on it during rush-hour traffic, the I-35W bridge near downtown Minneapolis collapsed. 13 people died and 145 were injured.

The tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge heightened worries regarding inadequate bridges throughout the state and the country.

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Minnesota currently has a total of 13,502 bridges in the state. As of June 2023, the state has identified 2,508 bridges that require repairs, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). That is down 177 from the 2,685 bridges that needed repairs in 2019.

582 of the bridges needing work in Minnesota are classified as structurally deficient -- down 40 from the 631 in 2019.

Minnesota currently has access to $130.3 million in bridge formula funds for needed repairs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. By 2026, Minnesota will have had $550 million for "general infrastructure investments that focus on roads and bridges, transit, water, energy, climate resiliency and adaptation, and broadband."

The ARTBA has compiled a list of the most traveled structurally deficient bridges in Minnesota:

Using data from the Federal Highway Administration, Staker analyzed which counties in Minnesota have the most bridges with urgent repair needs.

SEE ALSO: Best Places to Buy a Home in Minnesota Right Now