Impact of Climate Change on Infrastructure

Extreme summer weather linked to climate change is severely affecting the United States' infrastructure, particularly its bridges, which were already in a state of disrepair. Engineers report that record temperatures are causing materials to expand and contract in ways that existing bridge designs cannot accommodate, leading to an alarming increase in structural failures. A notable example is the 3rd Avenue Bridge, which became immobilized due to overheating machinery, illustrating the direct impact of high temperatures on transportation systems. Additionally, a study forecasts that without significant improvements, a substantial fraction of steel bridges may face collapse by 2050, underscoring the urgent need for modernization in the face of worsening climate challenges.