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According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the state has more than 140,000 miles of roads – the third-highest number in the country—and more than 70 percent are rural. This vast roadways network is crucial to moving Illinois commodities; however, the roads and bridges that interconnect to marketplace facilities and operations centers are slowly crumbling and causing concern.
According to the Federal Highway Administration and the Illinois Department of Transportation,
- Over 2,100 bridges were structurally deficient in 2012
- Almost 1,800 bridges are functionally obsolete
- More than 30 bridges were closed in 2011
- More than 20 bridge weight limits were reduced in 2011
As crop yields grow and trade patterns change, it is even more important to maintain and improve the system to avoid additional strains on the already stressed and aging system, and to keep Illinois competitive in the marketplace.
The interactive map below shows 12 of the most critical bridges in the state of Illinois. These bridges were analyzed through a checkoff-funded study to see how they impact the local farmers and economy. To learn more about why these bridges need more support, click here.
Are You a Soybean Farmer?
Find out how your operation could be impacted by an aging infrastructure and what you can do to help. Watch this video and visit VoiceforSoy.org.
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