DeKALB | A recent study deemed 2,300 bridges in Illinois “structurally deficient.”

According to nationalbridges.com, 14 bridges within a 50 mile radius of DeKalb are deemed “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete.”

The Bethany Road bridge in DeKalb County, which according to nationalbridges.com is “functionally obsolete,” will undergo construction in spring 2012.

“The Bethany Road bridge replacement over the Kishwaukee River will be bid on in September 2011,” said Joel Maurer, assistant director of Public Works for DeKalb. “The actual work will be under way spring 2012 and will be completed that year for approximately $1.6 million.”

Maurer said the Bethany Road bridge is the only bridge in the city of DeKalb that has such a rating.

According to nationalbridges.com, 79 bridges within a 50 mile radius of DeKalb are over 50 years old, though some have seen improvements since first being built.

Maurer said bridges in DeKalb are inspected every two years.

Karly Kuranda, junior athletic training major, said she commutes to school every morning.

“This makes me feel that we aren’t going to enough efforts to keep the community safe,” Kuranda said. “All it takes is one thing to happen for someone to be seriously injured. We should do something to repair them now.”

Daniel Spence, sophomore business administration major and DeKalb resident, said he wasn’t worried about the “structurally deficient” bridges.

“I feel like money should be put forward towards fixing the bridges in a timely and efficient manner,” Spence said. “But, as long as the DeKalb authorities deem them still safe, I won’t worry too much about it.”