National Bridge Inventory Rife with Environmental, Safety Stories

The National Bridge Inventory is a data tool that environmental and energy reporters can use to make their beat relevant to a wider audience. Compiled by the Federal Highway Administration, it can provide leads on stories like the use of federal highway funds, poor bridge maintenance, and even the pollution of water bodies with lead paint.

Information about the database can be found on the site of the Federal Highway Administration and related pages.

A very usable copy of the database is available from the National Institute for Computer Assisted Reporting (NICAR) Data Library, an arm of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE).