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Description
The poor condition of U.S. infrastructure merits wider discussion, as its implications go beyond public safety and economic operations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified four critical infrastructure areas—energy and water, facilities, information and communication technology, and transportation—as lifeline systems essential for ensuring public safety, economic security, and national security.
The U.S. interstate highway system, created by the 1956 National Interstate and Defense Highways Act under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, has been vital for national security.ii It facilitates troop movements and aids in the evacuation of large cities during emergencies. Additionally, Military Power Projection Platforms (PPP) rely on roads and bridges for movement to their designated sea or aerial ports of embarkation.iii Yet, despite their recognized importance in national security, the U.S. has allowed its transportation lifelines to degrade.
Alongside roads, bridges fall under the transportation lifeline function. With over 600,000 bridges spanning across the United States, and 167 million vehicles crossing them daily, they are a vital component of the nation’s infrastructure. In today’s globally interconnected society, an accidental channel blockage due to a downed bridge or intentional attack could have ripple effects that go well beyond the impacted area. Bridges deserve a deeper focus because of their critical role in both national security and economic operations as these structures connect cities, act as evacuation routes, provide faster transportation of goods, and support troop movements.
Publication Date
8-7-2024
Recommended Citation
Ward, Heather and Curp, Kathleen, "GNSI Decision Brief: Cracks in our Foundation: How Neglected Bridges Threaten National Security" (2024). GNSI Decision Briefs. 19.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/gnsi_decision_briefs/19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5038/OYQB5896
