A total of 25 percent of Maryland’s bridges show significant deterioration or do not meet modern design standards. Seven percent of the state’s bridges are structurally deficient, which indicates that there is significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports, or other major components. An additional 18 percent of Maryland’s bridges are functionally obsolete. These bridges no longer meet current highway design standards, often because of narrow lanes, inadequate clearances, or poor alignment. (For more on the state of Maryland and Washington, D.C. bridges, as well as throughout the nation, see Better Roads‘ Annual Bridge Inventory, published each year in the November issue.)

Growing traffic congestion, particularly in the state’s urban areas, threatens to choke commuting and commerce. The average commuter in the Washington, D.C., metro area loses 67 hours each year stuck in congestion.

Traffic crashes in Maryland claimed the lives of 2,897 people between 2006 and 2010. The state’s traffic fatality rate of 0.88 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel (VMT) is lower than the national average of 1.11 fatalities per 100 million VMT. However, the traffic fatality rate in 2010 on Maryland’s non-Interstate rural roads was 1.67 traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, nearly two-and-a-half times higher than the 0.69 traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel on all other roads and highways in the state. Roadway features are likely a contributing factor in approximately one-third of all fatal and serious traffic crashes. Where appropriate, highway improvements can reduce traffic fatalities and crashes while improving traffic flow to help relieve congestion.

Traffic safety in Maryland

“These key transportation numbers in Maryland add up to trouble for the state’s residents in terms of deteriorated roads and bridges, reduced traffic safety, and constrained economic development,” said Will Wilkins, executive director of TRIP, in a press release. “Improving road and bridge conditions, improving traffic safety, and providing a transportation system that will support economic development in Maryland will require a significant boost in state and federal funding for road, highway, and bridge improvements.”