Aerial view of the outerbridge crossing bridge between staten island, ny and new jersey
Aerial view of The Outerbridge Crossing Bridge between Staten Island, NY and New Jersey

Three Key New Jersey Bridges Identified as High Risk for Ship Strike Collapse by NTSB

by
March 22, 2025
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WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday urged owners of 68 aging bridges in 19 states to conduct immediate risk assessments following the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which was struck by a cargo ship last year.

The NTSB said the Key Bridge had a collapse risk nearly 30 times higher than the acceptable threshold set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), revealing significant safety gaps in older bridges designed before current guidance was adopted.

Key Points

  • NTSB recommends risk assessments for 68 older bridges lacking modern collapse evaluations.
  • Three New Jersey bridges identified: Commodore Barry, Vincent R. Casciano, and Outerbridge Crossing.
  • AASHTO’s Method II used to calculate ship collision risk and determine need for safety upgrades.

As part of its ongoing investigation into the March 26, 2024, collapse, the agency identified 68 similar bridges that lack modern vulnerability assessments. It recommended that 30 owners of these structures use AASHTO’s Method II calculation to determine the annual frequency of potential collapse.

Three key new jersey bridges identified as high risk for ship strike collapse by ntsb
Casciano bridge, jersey city, new jersey

“These bridges need to be evaluated to see whether their collapse risk exceeds the acceptable level,” the NTSB stated. “If so, a risk reduction plan should be implemented.”

Among those flagged were three major spans in New Jersey: the Commodore Barry Bridge (built in 1974), the Vincent R. Casciano (Newark Bay) Bridge (1955), and the Outerbridge Crossing (1928). Each was classified as either “typical” or “critical/essential,” depending on their design and function.

The NTSB emphasized that its recommendations do not indicate any of the 68 bridges are in imminent danger but stressed the need for updated assessments using current standards. The AASHTO guidelines now serve as the national benchmark for determining whether a bridge faces an unacceptable risk of collapse due to ship strikes.

Three key new jersey bridges identified as high risk for ship strike collapse by ntsb
Francis scott key bridge collapse, baltimore, md

The findings follow a year of analysis after the container ship Dali slammed into the Key Bridge, triggering its collapse and prompting federal authorities to reassess the nation’s aging infrastructure.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

As the founder of Shore News Network, Stilton oversees editorial operations, investigative reporting, and breaking news coverage while working closely with journalists, public officials, and community leaders. His reporting has covered municipal government, state politics, federal policy, public records investigations, emergency management, and major news events affecting local communities.

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