NTSB identifies 6 Texas critically important bridges that need safety assessments

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is urging Texas bridge owners to assess the risk of catastrophic collapses from vessel collisions following a federal investigation into the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The NTSB identified 68 bridges nationwide, including six in Texas, that may be at risk due to outdated designs and increased vessel traffic.

In a report released March 18, 2025, the NTSB called on bridge owners to conduct vulnerability assessments using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Method II calculation. The report specifically named Texas bridges, including the Sidney Sherman Bridge, Rainbow Bridge, and Veterans Memorial Bridge, as critical structures that may require immediate attention.

The NTSB’s investigation into the Key Bridge collapse revealed that the bridge’s risk of collapse from a vessel collision was nearly 30 times higher than the acceptable threshold set by AASHTO. The Key Bridge, built in 1977, had not undergone a vulnerability assessment based on modern vessel traffic, which includes larger ships due to the 2016 Panama Canal expansion.

“Had the Maryland Transportation Authority conducted a vulnerability assessment, they would have known the bridge was at high risk,” the NTSB stated in its report. “We urge all bridge owners, especially those in Texas, to take immediate action to assess and mitigate these risks.”

The NTSB identified six Texas bridges that meet the criteria for potential risk:

1. Sidney Sherman Bridge (Houston) – Built in 1973, classified as critical/essential.
2. Rainbow Bridge (Port Arthur) – Built in 1939, classified as critical/essential.
3. Veterans Memorial Bridge (Port Arthur) – Built in 1991, classified as critical/essential.
4. Hartman Bridge (eastbound and westbound, Houston) – Built in 1995, classified as typical.
5. GulfGate Bridge (Houston) – Built in 1970, classified as typical.
6. Buffalo Bayou Toll Bridge (Houston) – Built in 1980, classified as typical.

The NTSB recommended that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and other bridge owners calculate the annual frequency of collapse (AF) for these bridges and develop risk reduction plans if the risk exceeds AASHTO’s threshold. The plans should include short- and long-term strategies to reduce the probability of a collapse, such as enhancing pier protections or rerouting vessel traffic.

The NTSB also called on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to form an interdisciplinary team to assist bridge owners in evaluating and reducing risks. The team would provide guidance on bridge design, vessel traffic management, and waterway maintenance.

“The safety of the traveling public, bridges, and vessels depends on a comprehensive approach to risk management,” the NTSB emphasized. “Bridge owners must act now to prevent another tragedy like the Key Bridge collapse.”

The NTSB’s report comes as Texas continues to experience growth in maritime traffic, particularly in ports along the Gulf Coast. The Sidney Sherman Bridge and Rainbow Bridge, both critical to Houston’s infrastructure, are among the busiest in the state, handling thousands of vessel transits annually.

The NTSB’s full report, including a list of all 68 bridges at risk, is available on its website. Bridge owners have been urged to respond to the NTSB’s recommendations by calculating their bridges’ AF and developing risk reduction plans.

For more information, visit NTSB’s website.