The National Transportation Safety Board is hoping to avoid future tragedies by learning more about the bridges Americans cross every day. This comes after six construction workers were killed a year ago on March 26, 2024, when a container ship struck a bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.

Spectrum News 1 dug into a new report drawing attention to infrastructure in New York state.

Sixty-eight bridges in the U.S., including 13 in New York, could be at risk of collapse from a vessel strike, according to the NTSB report. 

“It kind of underscores what we've been saying for a while," state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said. "We need to keep putting bridges in better condition as a priority in New York.” 

In the aftermath of the Baltimore Francis Scott Key bridge collapse last year, the NTSB is recommending new evaluations for the 68 bridges, including the Newburgh Beacon Bridge, the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, which spans the Hudson River between Hudson and Catskill, and the Thousand Islands Bridge. The safety studies would determine the risk of bridge collapse from a vessel collision. 

“It really, I think, highlights how critical our infrastructure is to our economy," said Associated General Contractors of New York State President and CEO Mike Elmendorf. "When you look at the impact, in Baltimore on that port that is so important to the East Coast of the United States. Fortunately, the Army Corps of Engineers and others sprung into action very quickly and were able to get the port operating. But there were questions whether that would be possible at first.” 

Elmendorf said that reports like these underscore how important infrastructure investment is in the state for both public safety and the economy. 

“Invest in these things, it creates good jobs and supports supply chains," he said. "It saves New Yorkers money. It costs New Yorkers a substantial amount of money every year to be driving on poor infrastructure. It's also good fiscal policy because, ultimately, it costs governments less when you keep these things in a state of good repair to begin with.” 

Elmendorf added he hopes an extra $800 million for state Transportation Department needs is included in the final state budget.  

DiNapoli said the governor’s Bridge New York program has been a good step forward and hopes this federal administration will continue to prioritize infrastructure spending after the Biden administration’s historic investment. 

“The local governments can't do it on their own," he said. "The state can't do it on our own. Thankfully, the federal government under the prior administration put a big priority on infrastructure investment, including on bridges and other critical infrastructure. Let's hope the current administration doesn't retreat on those commitments.”

The NTSB is also recommending the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers establish a team to provide guidance and assistance to bridge owners on evaluating and reducing the risk.