Databases
National Bridge Inventory
This dataset includes structural evaluations and information for bridges throughout the United States. The
inspection reports include important criteria necessary for evaluating the condition of bridges as well as specific
details relating to the location, age and ownership or each bridge. Many reporters have used this data to alert their
communities to possible infrastructure hazards.
OSHA Workplace Safety Data
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration database includes inspections and accidents in U.S. states and territories from 1972 through August 2002. The information is arranged in four main tables that can be joined by a common field. One table has the location and name of the company and includes past OSHA violations. Details about the accident are located in another table, and another shows types of violations and penalties for violations. There is also a table with accidents involving hazardous materials.
Federal Procurement Data System
Within this data are records of contracts the federal government has made with businesses relating to infrastructure
work, including construction of bridges, tunnels, highways, streets, water lines, sewer lines and pipelines. Federal
agencies are required to report contracts worth more than $25,000. This data is maintained by the U.S. General Services Administration. Information about contractors includes location and type of business, as well as services and products provided. A state slice of this data has information on contracting agencies and contractors in the state and contracts performed in the state.
Consolidated Federal Funds Reports
This database includes records of federal money obligated to states, local governments, grants and direct loans,
including infrastructure-related programs. Some of these programs involve security and safety of dams, highway planning
and construction as well as the relocation of power lines, gas lines, roads, utilities and bridges.
Federal Assistance Award Data System
This database includes records of federal assistance relating to the nation's infrastructure awarded to individuals,
state and local governments, profit agencies as well as nonprofit organizations. About 600 federal assistance programs
are covered in this data including programs relating to emergency flood response and prevention; highway planning and
construction; bridge alteration; road maintenance and protection of essential highways, highway bridge approaches, etc.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance lists all of these programs.
To order the data, call the Database Library at 573-884-7711 or download an order form.
Extra! Extra!
Check out the latest bridge stories on IRE's investigative reporting blog.
Indiana bridges failing in comparison to Illinois bridges
The Northwest Indiana Times analyzed federal inspection records for 771 elevated road bridges in Lake and Porter counties (Ind.). They found “that as of 2003, 27 percent were either structurally deficient or unable to accommodate rising traffic loads because of...
Posted in Extra! Extra! on May 23, 2005 02:43 PM
Review finds hundreds of deficient bridges in Utah
Lee Davidson of The Deseret Morning News used federal data to review deficient bridges in Utah. "Federal data, based on state inspections, show that 256 bridges in Utah were considered structurally deficient in 2004. Another 250 were functionally obsolete." Despite...
Posted in Extra! Extra! on May 19, 2005 09:23 AM
Bad bridges plague Oklahoma
Steve Lackmeyer and John Perry of The Oklahoman used state and federal data to find that "fixing Oklahoma's bridges — the nation’s worst — would cost taxpayers billions of dollars. All proposed remedies fall woefully short." The state has had...
Posted in Extra! Extra! on May 17, 2005 09:12 AM
Unsafe bridges put public safety at risk
Dani Dodge of the Ventura County Star used Federal Highway Administration data to show that "twenty-eight of Ventura County's 485 bridges are considered ‘structurally deficient’ ... Bringing just 15 of those bridges up to standard would cost $50 million."
Posted in Extra! Extra! on February 24, 2005 10:46 AM
Ohio's railroad bridges in especially poor condition
Rich Exner of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer analyzed Ohio inspection records to find that "nearly 3,000 bridges in Ohio are deficient — rated in poor condition or worse ... And those identified as being maintained by the railroads are much...
Posted in Extra! Extra! on December 23, 2003 01:52 PM
Trucks involved in nearly half of fatal crashes on Iowa road
Kurt Rogahn of The (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Gazette used data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the National Bridge Inventory to find that "nearly half the fatal accidents on I-80 in Iowa from 1994 through 2001 involved semi-trailer trucks,"...
Posted in Extra! Extra! on November 11, 2003 12:14 PM
Dangerous bridge connects Cincinnati, N. Kentucky
The Cincinnati Enquirer's James Pilcher, in a project with Tom McKee of WCPO-Cincinnati, finds that the Brent Spence Bridge, "the major commuter route between downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky," is one of the most dangerous bridges in the country. The...
Posted in Extra! Extra! on September 24, 2003 02:38 PM
Nearly third of nation's bridges deficient
Jonathan D. Salant of the Associated Press analyzed federal transportation data to find that 28 percent of highway bridges are considered deficient by federal standards. "The number of bridges considered deficient — they need repairs, cannot adequately handle traffic loads...
Posted in Extra! Extra! on July 10, 2003 04:37 PM
Stories
To order stories from the IRE Resource Center, send e-mail to rescntr@ire.org or call us at 573-882-3364.
Story#21760
In April 2004, a pier from a 350 million dollar Florida highway project collapsed. A previous investigation had already shown that some of the construction had been done incorrectly. After the collapse, the investigation resumed and reporters uncovered “more construction mistakes, inadequate ground testing methods and inadequate oversight of the project.
Story #21397
In the Oregonian's three part series, Zaitz and Long take a look at Oregon’s deteriorating bridges. The bridges are in bad shape because, as some argue, Oregon allows truck weights that far exceed designed capacity. The bridges are cracking and Zaitz and Long discover it's not up to bridge designers to fix them. Instead, the problem lies in state politics. (2002)
Story# 22553
This story exposed the deteriorating condition of New York's Tappan Zee Bridge. The Journal News exposed structural decay, falling safety ratings and the failure of restoration efforts. The state Thruway Authority resisted disclosure of the inspection reports that disclosed these conditions. The Journal News (White Plains, N.Y.) Jorge Fitz-Gibbon; Bruce Golding; Dwight R. Worley
Story# 22106
This story shows that in spite of more than $300 million in repairs, the Tappan Zee bridge has worse safety ratings than it did ten years ago. The reporters used a computer analysis of government records for their story. The Journal News (White Plains, N.Y.) Bruce Golding; Jorge Fitz-Gibbon; Dwight R. Worley
Story #2812
The Hartford Courant runs special section on bridge inspections in Connecticut a year after a fatal bridge collapse; probe finds the state's revamped bridge inspection program marred by falsified records, wasted time, inconsistent performance and poor supervision.
Story #18971
This two-part series investigates on the superficial way in which Cal-OSHA conducted inquiries in work-related deaths. Also provides an analysis of the labor fatalities from 1998 to 2000 that points out the increasing number of deaths among Hispanic immigrants compared to a 3 percent drop in workplace deaths nationwide. Specific cases and discussions of the Cal-OSHA reports are provided.
Story #10056
Dateline NBC conducts a computer-assisted investigation to reveal the deteriorating and potentially dangerous condition of thousands of bridges nation-wide; focus is primarily on cases where bridges collapsed with fatal results.
Story #2450
The Detroit News publishes article about the poor design and construction that led to the near collapse of the world's largest concrete segmental bridge and the largest cost overrun in the history of Michigan roadbuilding.
Story #17779
The Kansas City Star investigated Missouri and Kansas bridges, finding that “nearly four out of 10 Missouri bridges were 'deficient'. In Kansas, nearly 26 percent of bridges rated as either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.” However, “relief is coming. The Missouri General Assembly has approved selling up to $2.25 billion in bonds over several years to accelerate road and bridge projects already in the works. . . And in Kansas, the Legislature passes a 10-year, $13 billion transportation program in 1999. About $356 million of the money is earmarked for bridge work.”
Story #17686
This Pittsburgh Magazine article examines the state of bridges in the Pittsburgh area. Michael Bartley finds that “bridges in this state are indeed in trouble — fourth worst in the nation, according to a new study. In particular, the Pittsburgh area is beset with a growing and worsening problem of aging, deteriorating bridges, caused by the sheer number of spans and what some call a shortage of bridge maintenance and construction money."
Story #16374
KOMU-Columbia, Mo. did a computer-assisted investigation that "revealed that mid-Missouri's bridges are deteriorating and placing drivers into possibly dangerous situations every day ... bridges dropping large pieces of concrete into traffic lanes on Interstate 70 ... the state had no plans to fix this problem anytime within the next five years ... one in three bridges in mid-Missouri is structurally deficient .... it would take 49 years to fix the problems that current bridges have with current funding even though transportation officials say that an average bridge has a lifespan of 50 years...."
Story #6008
The Deseret News of Salt Lake City reports that one of every 13 bridges in Utah is unsafe or functionally obsolete; finds the cost of needed repairs would take decades to finance.
Story #12972
The Post-Bulletin examines an analysis which shows that Minnesota's deteriorating bridges aren't being repaired and replaced fast enough, forcing some counties to restrict or close bridges while they wait for money needed to repair. It would take $184 million to bring deficient bridges up to the highest standards.
Story #17011
This computer-assisted analysis finds that "one in seven bridges in Massachusetts is structurally deficient and in need of overhaul." They report on how bridges in Massachusetts need repair, "money to fix them is lacking, and public safety is threatened." The Globe analyzed inspection data for every bridge in Massachusetts.
Story #17968
"Twenty-five percent of Minnesota's bridges and 28 percent of North Dakota's bridges are older than their designed life span of 50 years... Across the United States, one bridge in nine needs to be replaced." The Herald reports federal funds are available once a bridge scores a sufficiency rating less than 50 (out of one hundred). In the Grand Forks area, de-rated bridges pose a problem for farmers who can't move new, heavy farm machinery across them to their farms. Also at issue is the fact that money is dispersed to counties that decide how to allocate transportation dollars.
Story #18923
WFLA-Tampa reports on the "premature corrosion of the Sunshine Skyway and other post-tensioned concrete bridges in Florida." The stories describe how the state Department of Transportation tried to hide the flawed construction methods, and uncovers a "series of near calamities affecting several major bridges in rapid succession across the state." The coverage triggered reforms in the national bridge code.
Story #18794
A series of stories by the Tampa Tribune "detail the premature corrosion of the Sunshine Skyway and other post-tensioned concrete bridges in Florida. They reveal how Flordia's" Department of Transportation "tried to keep the problems under wraps and how the issues eventually triggered substantial changes in the way post-tensioned bridges are designed and built not only in Florida but across the nation.
Story #10372
Asbury Park Press does a computer-assisted analysis of the state of disrepair of New Jersey bridges; finds that one out of six bridges in New Jersey is in critical condition, it will cost billions to fix them and New Jersey is one of the worst states in the nation at maintaining its bridges.
Story #14331
The investigation looked at the condition of more than 500 bridges in the Kansas City area. Downtown Kansas City lies on the shore of the Missouri River and is connected to the suburbs and the airport by a series of bridges that are aging and deteriorated.
Story #19667
WPSD--Paducah reports "One out of four bridges in Western Kentucky are deficient and need to be replaced, but state transportation officials say they cannot afford the $1.08 billion price tag."
Story #16400
This collection of stories from WHDH-Boston focuses on issues from investigating the physical conditions of public school's classrooms in Massachusetts to examining dangerous bridges in need of repair.
Story #15349
WSMV-Nashville found that Department of Transportation employee Mike Klahr, who was supposed to inspect the most dangerous bridges in middle Tennessee, never went near a bridge during an eight-day surveillance. Instead, he ran a private painting business on state time, watered his lawn on state time and often worked as little as one hour a day. A computer-assisted investigation found plenty of work to do on Tennessee bridges. The series also discloses how Tennessee closes its bridge inspection records to the public.
Story #9718
Dayton (Ohio) Daily News details the sorry state of bridges in the U.S.; finds that one of every three bridges are either obsolete or dangerous and the government isn't spending enough to rectify the problem.
Story #10571
The Post Standard conducts a computer-assisted investigation on the safety of bridges and New York's bridge inspection program. The series finds that railroad bridge inspections are not regulated by the state.
Story #6418
KOCO-Oklahoma City discovers school buses putting children at risk by crossing unsafe bridges; county officials were aware that school bus drivers routinely exceeded recommended weight limits for bridges, but took no action because they said there were no reasonable alternatives.
Story #5532
WMCA-New York series details numerous structural flaws in New York's aging bridges; finds state and federal funding problems.
Story #19155
Florida Trend Magazine reports Florida has more than 100 communities with bridges that need replacing. Sarasota is a perfect example of what can go wrong in these situations. The city spent money fighting a high-span bridge that local businesses wanted.
Story #5397
The Detroit News hires an engineer to evaluate blueprints and work on Milwaukee Bridge, the most expensive highway project in state history; finds design and construction problems, triggering a federal investigation.
Story #12890
The Albany Times Union examines the current condition of interstate highways, used by almost every American. The stories reveal these roads, though designed to be the nation's safest highways, have problems of their own. Their bridges are cracking , the pavement is cracking and in some areas, the fatality rate is several times the national highway average.
Story #3577
WYOU-Scranton, Pa. looks at weak safety features of state highways; poor design elements and unprotected bridges make routine travel hazardous on many roads.
Story #6976
Washington Monthly looks at the Davis-Bacon Act, a law passed in 1931 to protect construction workers, but which has become obsolete and expensive, adding to the cost of construction of federal projects to the tune of $1 billion a year.
Story #2204
Kansas City Star and Times examines construction documents of the Hyatt Regency, where a skywalk's collapse killed guests; indicates trouble signals were missed, contractor faced bankruptcy, skywalks were never inspected.
Story #13070
This Morning Call series found that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration fails to shield workers from injury and death in Pennsylvania. OSHA inspects few worksites, misses accidents that maim workers and has no way of telling which workplaces are the most hazardous.
Story #6767
Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., publishes the White Paper "Prosecuting Workplace Injuries and Death: Trends and Analysis," focusing on the loopholes, investigation boondoggles, and bargained-downed fines.
Story #10795
The Kansas City Business Journal series examines the issue of federal regulation of business, focusing on the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The series documents how the cost of many regulations far exceeds their benefits, the unrealistic risk assessments that the EPA relies on, the arbitrary nature of OSHA's enforcement actions and the effectiveness of workplace discrimination rules that fall under the EEOC.
Story #7323
Pittsburgh Press finds the American workplace is growing more and more dangerous for its workers; work-related deaths since the Occupational Safety and Health Act became law in 1970 almost equal American deaths during World War II; three workers are suffering disabling injuries every minute across the country; construction, industry and health care workers are at risk.
Story #4200
The Wall Street Journal reports that safety in the workplace has taken a back seat to saving time and money as work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths increase.
Story #6304
National Safety Workplace Institute's guide for public and private sources of information on job safety and health.
Story #14944
The Arizona Republic examined OSHA inspection records and took an in-depth look at the estate workers' compensation system. Using an OSHA database, the paper established the median fine assessed in connection with a workplace death in which a serious safety violation was found - $3,000. The project also included several sidebars that profiled workers that were killed on the job and showed the dramatic impact on their families.
Story #8861
ABA Journal looks at how the weak enforcement measures of OSHA, coupled with the declining power of labor unions, is allowing more workplace accidents and deaths, with the injury rates of American workers rising 6 percent and occupational illness rates jumping 17 percent in 1990.
Story #20118
The Progressive magazine looks at workplace safety and OSHA.
Search for more stories in IRE's Resource Center.
Tipsheets
To order tipsheets from the IRE Resource Center, send e-mail to rescntr@ire.org or call us at 573-882-3364.
Tipsheet #2399
This Tipsheet is a very comprehensive guide to doing an investigation about local bridges. It covers what information to look for in the data as well as different stories that will all come from the same database. For example, Mark Greenblatt of KHOU-Houston suggests using the data for the “widespread story”, the “scour story” and the “breaking news story.” For each suggestion, Greenblatt explains the problem and how to approach it as a reporter.
Tipsheet #1608
Natalya Shulyakovskaya of The Orange County Register offers Web addresses of federal, NGO and academic organizations involved in occupational safety and health related domains, agreements and resources towards worker's compensation and a guide on how to report on OSHA activity.
From 2002
Tipsheet #1758
Mary Fricker of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat compiled a detailed collection of resources and story ideas on worker's compensation.
From 2002
Tipsheet #1757
Diana Hembree of Consumer Health Interactive has a list of federal, state and local sources for covering job profiles and occupational health.
Tipsheet #31
From Mike Casey and Russ Carollo of the Dayton Daily News: Outlines how to proceed in a workplace safety project; includes source list, background on Occupational Safety and Health Administration, computer vs. non-computer reporting and public records. Also includes who to write for the OSHA database, institutions that have the OSHA tapes and can perform analysis, sample federal inspection list, reported occupational injury incidence rates by industry.
From 1992
Tipsheet #1399
From the 2001 annual IRE conference, Ken Ward Jr. provides a listing of Web sites beneficial to finding inspection/enforcement actions, records of injuries/fatalities, annual studies and government research.
Tipsheet #627
In this handout from the 1997 computer-assisted reporting conference, Natalya Shulyakovskaya, Nancy Amons and David Herzog cover how to analyze public pension funds, and how to cover safety in the workplace. The tipsheet includes agencies to contact and Internet sites to access for information on workplace safety.
Tipsheet #36
Margaret Engel of The Washington Post lists resources for investigating the workplace, including organizations, publications, computer data bases, unions and universities with occupational health and safety programs.
Tipsheet #1456
In this handout from the 2001 annual IRE conference, Mike McGraw, Jim Steele and Joe Stephens list almost 40 little known or rarely used documents and sources. Among them: subminimum wage certificates; reports on workplace fatalities; gasoline credit card receipts; and letters written by companies and individuals commenting on proposed regulations.
Search for more tipsheets in IRE's Resource Center.
IRE Publications
The Investigative Reporter's Handbook, Brant Houston's Computer-Assisted Reporting book and other helpful publications are available from IRE and NICAR.
Chapter 12 of The Investigative Reporter's Handbook, Investigating the Private Sector: For-Profit Businesses and Their Workers, includes information on safety and health in the workplace.
Uplink articles
Dani Dodge explains how she used the CAR skills she learned at a NICAR Boot Camp to investigate deteriorating bridge conditions in and around Ventura County, Calif. She discusses how she analyzed the National Bridge Inventory database, backed up her findings by talking to local officials, overcame discrepancies in the data, and ended up with a successful story. (May/June 2005 PDF download)
After a bridge on Interstate 40 collapsed in Oklahoma, the Tulsa World got to work analyzing the Department of Transportation's bridge data. Instead of looking at the whole state for problem bridges, they focused their attention on bridges that were on the detour routes given to the public. Their results showed that six of the bridges on the detour routes needed to be replaced. (July/August 2002 PDF download)
IRE members can search the indexes of The IRE
Journal and Uplink. Back issues of The IRE Journal and Uplink may be purchased for $10 each. There is
an additional $10 user fee for nonmembers. Check with the Resource Center at 573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org for availability.
Web Links
| For
more information, contact: |
Jeff Porter
Database Library Director
IRE and NICAR
E-mail: jeff@ire.org
Voice: 573-882-1982
Fax: 573-882-5431 |
Beth Kopine
Research Director
IRE Resource Center
E-mail: beth@ire.org
Voice: 573-882-6668
Fax: 573-884-8151 |
|
