In the past year alone, more than 20 bridges (or segments of bridges) around the world have collapsed, taking lives, disrupting transportation, and leaving communities in shock. Some of these tragedies happened in seconds, concrete and steel crumbling under unseen forces, giving no clear warning. Others showed early signs of distress, cracks, sagging decks, or shifting foundations, yet still failed before action could be taken.
The reality is simple: bridges do not collapse overnight. The warning signs are always there. The problem? We are not monitoring them effectively.
The world’s bridges are aging. Many were built decades ago, under conditions that no longer reflect today’s extreme weather patterns, increasing traffic loads, and shifting geotechnical environments. Poor maintenance, delayed inspections, and financial constraints further accelerate their decline. Yet, we still rely on periodic visual checks, an outdated method that leaves too much room for uncertainty.
Bridge collapsed due to heavy rain
Through our research, we see recurring reasons for bridge failures:
🔴 Undetected structural degradation – Years of wear and tear weaken key components.
🔴 Corrosion and material failure – Rusted steel, decayed concrete, and failing joints compromise integrity.
🔴 Extreme weather events – Floods, earthquakes, and storms accelerate existing vulnerabilities.
🔴 Overloading and design limitations – Bridges handling more weight than they were designed for.
🔴 Construction flaws and poor maintenance – Shortcuts in building and delays in necessary repairs.
Bridge | Length collapsed | Injured | Killed | Cause | Source |
Nettelhorst Brug (Netherlands) | 136m* | 2-5 | 2 | Construction accident (a lifting point broke during the hoisting of bridge arches)
| |
Kosi River Bridge | 60m* | 9 | 1 | Structural failure during construction (collapse of three piers, under investigation)
| |
Paninsky Bridge (Vyazma, Russia) | Four sections of the bridge collapse onto the railway line | 6 | 1 | Structural failure from dilapidation, possibly exacerbated by ground subsidence during spring thaw | |
Bridge over Bakra River (Araria, India) | over just 10 days, five bridges in the districts of Araria, Siwan, East Champaran, Kishanganj, and Madhubani have fallen | 0 | 0 | Poor construction quality
| |
Bridge over Gandak River (Siwan, India) | entire span of a 40–45-year-old road bridge | 0 | 0 | Aging infrastructure (structural weakness leading to collapse) | |
Rail Overpass (East Champaran, India) | a portion of an under-construction rail overbridge (between Amwa and Chainpur) | 0 | 0 | Construction failure (collapse during ongoing work) | |
Bridge in Kishanganj (Kishanganj, India) | entire structure (details not disclosed) | 0 | 0 | Under investigation (collapse reported with no further details) | |
Under-construction Bridge (Madhubani, India) | a 77 m concrete girder (span) of a new bridge over the Kosi River | 0 | 0 | Construction failure | |
Gandak River Bridge (Saran, India) | central portion of a 15-year-old highway bridge | 0 | 0 | Extreme monsoon flooding and poor maintenance (one of several collapses in Bihar within days) | |
Ponte di Visletto (Ticino, Switzerland) | part of an arch bridge over the Maggia River | 0 | 0 | Heavy flooding from summer storms, which undermined the bridge | |
Highway Bridge in Zhashui (Shangluo, China) | a section of a highway over the Jinqian River | 31 (missing) | 12 | Torrential rains and flash floods causing structural failure | |
Yakang Expressway Bridge (Ganzi, Sichuan, China) | entire road concrete bridge linking two tunnels (total collapse) | 0 | 5 (missing, presumed dead) | Mudslide triggered by heavy rainfall, which washed out the bridge supports
| |
Sanhui New Bridge (Qiandongnan, Guizhou, China) | two arches of a modern concrete arch bridge | 0 | 0 | Structural cracks/failure detected in the bridge (the collapse happened soon after cracks were noticed) | |
BNSF Big Sioux River Railroad Bridge (USA) | one mid-span of the steel truss bridge (over Big Sioux River) | 0 | 0 | Record flooding – the river crested over 7 ft above record, undermining the span
| |
Babb’s Covered Bridge (Maine, USA) | an 8‑ft section of the wooden deck | 1 | 0 | Overweight load – a heavy truck caused the historic covered bridge floor to give way
| |
Phong Châu Bridge (Phú Thọ, Vietnam) | 375 m | 3 | 1 dead, 7 missing | Severe flooding from Typhoon Yagi, which inundated the river and weakened the bridge. Phong Chau Bridge, which spans the Red River in Phu Tho Province, suddenly collapsed and was carried away by the strong currents.
| |
Carola Bridge (Dresden, Germany) | ~100 m of the western section (tram and pedestrian lanes) | 0 | 0 | Structural failure of a 50-year-old pre-stressed concrete span, likely due to long-term corrosion of steel tendons (“chlorine” corrosion from the bridge’s East German era) |
|
Red Bridge (Kamloops, Canada) | 400 m | 0 | 0 | Fire damage – a blaze (suspected arson) engulfed the 103-year-old bridge, leading to its collapse | |
Old Ganga Bridge (Kanpur, India) | ~30 m of a 1,380 m historic iron bridge | 0 | 0 | Structural degradation – decades-old cracked pillars and rusted iron framework caused it to collapse on its own | |
Strong River Bridge (Mississippi, USA) | a main span of the concrete bridge fell into the river | 3 | 3 | Work-site accident – the bridge (closed for replacement) collapsed during demolition when a piece of heavy equipment failed | |
Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira (JK) Bridge (Brazil) | 533 m* | 0 | 13 dead, 4 missing | Suspected structural failure from lack of maintenance – several loaded vehicles were on the span when it gave way, including a tanker truck (no collision occurred, but the collapse also caused a hazardous material spill) |
*Only segments of the bridge have collapsed, not the full bridge.
Structural failures are not sudden. They are predictable, if we have the right systems in place.
Modern Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) technologies allow us to detect changes long before they become disasters. Sensors embedded in bridges can continuously measure strain, vibration, tilt, and other crucial factors, providing real-time data on a structure’s condition. Unlike traditional inspection methods, which rely on human assessment at scheduled intervals, SHM works 24/7, in real-time, in all weather conditions.
✅ Early detection of structural weaknesses – Alerts before damage reaches critical levels.
✅ Data-driven decision-making – Governments and engineers can allocate resources based on real-time conditions.
✅ Reduced maintenance costs – Targeted repairs prevent more expensive interventions later.
✅ Improved public safety – Preventing catastrophic failures saves lives.
The statistics from our research are not just numbers, they represent real lives lost and preventable disasters. Every bridge collapse is a wake-up call, urging cities and infrastructure planners to stop relying on outdated methods and start implementing real-time monitoring solutions.
The technology exists. The data is available. The question is: will we act before the next bridge falls?
🔗 Learn more about how SHM can protect infrastructure!
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