Bipartisan, bicameral legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives would strengthen standards for federally funded infrastructure projects.
The Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act would instruct the U.S. Department of Transportation to study and generate best practices on inspecting for and addressing corrosion on bridges made of weathering steel. It also would ensure corrosion prevention work is done by qualified workers using proven techniques.
The bill builds on a recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board.
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and John Garamendi (D-CA) introduced the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced the bill in the U.S. Senate.
“In 2021, the nation’s Infrastructure Report Card rated the bridges in Pennsylvania with a D+ grade and the bridges across the U.S. with a C grade,” Fitzpatrick said. “Seeing our infrastructure literally crumble and corrode, Congress came together to enact the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to renovate, rehabilitate, and rebuild our America’s physical infrastructure. Today, I am proud to lead the bipartisan, bicameral Bridge Corrosion Prevention and Repair Act, which will ensure that the standards are raised, structural conditions are improved, and communities are made safer.”