State Rep. Zachary Mako, R-Northampton, speaks during a 2024 Department of Environmental Protection tour and presentation.

A state lawmaker wants to allow local governments greater ability to remotely monitor bridges in need of repair and low bridges.

A recent analysis of PennDOT data for state bridges longer than 8 feet and locally maintained bridges longer than 20 feet showed that 43 bridges (16%) are in poor condition, with another 121 (46%) in fair condition. The remaining 101 (38%) of the county’s 265 bridges are listed in good condition. The number of county bridges in poor condition is slightly higher than the state average of 14%, according to TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. A bridge is rated as poor/structurally deficient if there is significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components. Bridges that are rated poor/structurally deficient may be posted for lower weight limits or closed if their condition warrants such action.

A state lawmaker wants to create a camera program to monitor bridges that are posted for lower weight limits as well as low bridges. Rep. Zachary Mako, R-Northampton, is drafting legislation that would give local governments the ability, after passing an ordinance, to install and operate an automated enforcement camera program to properly enforce weight and size restricted bridges in Pennsylvania. The automated enforcement system would have to be approved by the state Transportation Department.

“As the bridge infrastructure in Pennsylvania continues to age and deteriorate and many bridges become incapable of holding the weight of certain types of motor vehicles, there will certainly be a greater number of bridge-related accidents and infrastructure damage in the future, which we simply cannot afford for financial and safety reasons,” Mako wrote in his co-sponsorship memorandum. “Currently, there is not an effective way to properly prevent overweight and oversize vehicles from using weight and size restricted bridges in Pennsylvania. To that end, my legislation would create an automated enforcement camera program to enforce weight and size restrictions on bridges that have been designated as weight restricted or size restricted.”

Pennsylvania has a total of 25,400 state-owned bridges in Pennsylvania, the third-largest number of bridges in the nation. The average age of a bridge in Pennsylvania is over 50 years old. According to PennDOT, there are approximately 2,100 state bridges in poor condition, and 1,544 local bridges in poor condition. In addition to poor condition bridges, there are approximately 1,705 posted bridges in Pennsylvania.

Mako also wants to monitor low bridges. In Pennsylvania, a “low bridge” is any bridge with a vertical clearance of less than 13’6″ for commercial vehicles, or less than 14’6″ for all vehicles, which requires specific signage to warn drivers of the restricted height and potential for bridge strikes.

According to PennDOT data, in the 10 years between 2013 and 2023, there were more than 600 strikes to bridges or other overhead structures in PA.

“Pennsylvania has made tremendous progress on improving our bridges, and through Governor Shapiro’s budget investments we can advance even more repairs. Each of these bridge strikes take funding away from other projects and often involve resources from our emergency response partners,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Drivers must know their vehicle height and watch for signage indicating bridge heights. If you are driving a commercial vehicle, a delivery or moving truck, or an RV, do not rely on your navigation app. Check the height of your vehicle and know it’s right.”