SAVANNAH, Ga. () — A new report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
is raising new questions about the safety of the Talmadge Bridge.
The NTSB says the bridge is one of dozens around the country that should be evaluated to see how it would hold up if hit by a large boat.

The Talmadge Bridge is on that list for a vulnerability assessment because it was built before 1991. That is a standard procedure for any span that old. This new report comes after last year’s deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
“Had the MDTA conducted a vulnerability assessment of the key bridge based on recent vessel traffic,” Jennifer Homendy, 15th Chair of the NTSB. “The MDTA would have been able to proactively identify strategies to reduce the risk of a collapse and loss of lives associated with a vessel collision with the bridge.”
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released their guide specifications for bridges in 1991 and then again in 2009. Some specifications include bridges having a vertical clearance of at least 80 feet and piers in a waterway to help withstand impact from a vessel.
“We’re urging 30 owners of 68 bridges in 19 states to perform a vulnerability assessment of their bridges. Risk of catastrophic collapse from a vessel collision, determine whether they need to implement countermeasures to reduce vulnerability. Report their findings to the NTSB and, if warranted, implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan that includes, at a minimum, short- and long-term strategies to reduce the probability of a bridge collapse from a vessel collision,” Homendy said.
The recommendations do not suggest that the 68 bridges on the list are certain to collapse, but they do need to be evaluated to prevent future tragedies from occurring and to collect data. The NTSB says if this assessment was done in Baltimore bridge owners would have been aware that the bridge was almost 30 times greater than the risk threshold set by AASHTO.
“68 bridges have not undergone a vulnerability assessment based on recent vessel traffic have an unknown level of risk of collapse from a vessel collision, which is why we’re recommending that those 30 bridge owners take action now,” Homendy said.
To read the full NTSB report, click or tap here.

will keep you updated on the Georgia Department of Transportation’s response.