About 30% of the 84 bridges in Branch County have received bad ratings in a statewide report released Wednesday. Of Michigan’s nearly 11-thousand bridges, around three thousand or 28 percent are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, according to a statewide analysis released by the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association.

MITA says in Branch County, 18 are structurally deficient and 7 functionally obsolete. The association says the funding is keeping pace with the need. Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of MITA says across Michigan we have sadly reached the point where our road and bridge system is no longer sustainable.

Nystrom said when the percentage of roads and bridges in tough shape climbs to a level this high, policymakers have little choice but to repair and replace the failing ones rather than maintain the others before they fail as well.

http://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2010/oct/28/some-bridges-branch-county-are-deficient/