More local bridge ratings

State and local officials are continuing a cursory review of structural deficiencies from previous inspections and the inspection process itself in the wake of the tragedy in Minneapolis. Here are today's articles on bridge safety around Arkansas:

Texarkana Gazette: Area bridges get mixed ratings
Ark. News Bureau:Inspections scheduled for bridges of similar design in Ark.
Ark. Democrat-Gazette: In reversal, state focuses on 6 bridge inspections
Associated Press: 11 Ark. bridges share design with collapsed span
KARK: Report Says I-440 River Bridge Has Cracks
Benton Courier: Local highway bridges safe, officials say

Yesterday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters called on states to immediately inspect any steel deck truss bridges similar to the I-35 structure. State and federal inspectors have deemed 73,518 "structurally deficient" bridges across the country that are in need of significant repairs. More than 26% of the nation's bridges have been rated either structurally deficient or "functionally obsolete," meaning that they're no longer adequate for the amount of traffic they carry. It would cost an estimated $9.4 billion a year for 20 years to bring all of the existing bridges up to date, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.