WASHINGTON — Repair work has begun on a Capital Beltway overpass above Suitland Road after a chunk of concrete crumbled off the bridge and smashed into a car Tuesday evening.
The driver was not hurt, but the incident has raised broader concerns about the integrity of area roadways and bridges.
That Prince George’s County overpass, in particular, was already considered structurally deficient, and it had been scheduled to be replaced.
Crews are now removing loose concrete and spraying the bridge with a heavy-duty epoxy, an adhesive.
“The bridge is safe,” assures Maryland State Highway Administration spokesman Charlie Gischlar. “We’re maintaining it, but it is on our radar.”
In Maryland, 81 bridges are considered structurally deficient, according to SHA records.
When a bridge is given the label, the agency begins the process of replacing it.
“We try our best to do proactive measures through our inspection program,” Gischlar says.
According to SHA, most of the bridges that are considered structurally deficient are placed in that category due to road surface problems.
SHA is responsible for more than 2,500 bridges across Maryland.
