• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Scattered across South Dakota, mostly on lightly traveled gravel roads, 127 bridges carry dual designations that indicate they have problems.
• The bridges are deemed "fracture critical" because they don't have redundant protections and are at risk of collapse if a single vital component fails. They also are designated "structurally deficient," in need of rehabilitation or replacement because at least one major component has problems that have led inspectors to rate their condition as poor or worse.
• The Associated Press analyzed data involving 607,380 bridges in the National Bridge Inventory, and found 65,605 structurally deficient bridges and 20,808 fracture critical bridges, according to the most recently available data. Some 7,795 bridges nationwide fall into both categories -- a combination of red flags that experts say is particularly problematic.
• The inventory found 126 such bridges in South Dakota, but state transportation officials say the number is actually 127 due to a lag in reporting. The state's list omits two bridges that have been closed but adds three new ones.
• None of the problem bridges are on state highways, which carry a high volume of traffic and heavy trucks. Nearly all are on county roads with little traffic in rural areas, and many have weight limits that prohibit heavy vehicles. While the risk is less than if the bridges were on heavily traveled roads, that means cash-strapped county and municipal governments struggle to address the bridges.
• Kevin Goeden, the state Transportation Department's chief bridge engineer, said each bridge is inspected every year or two, so each bridge on the list is safe for travel by vehicles within the maximum weight limit.
• "It doesn't mean it's unsafe. It may be posted, and it should be safe up to that posted load," Goeden said.
• Brown County is responsible for four bridges on the list -- all about a century old or older-- and one has been closed. County Highway Superintendent Jan Weismantel said the other three are dying of old age, but should be safe as long as drivers don't exceed the load limits, 3 tons for one and 5 tons for the other two. Those restrictions basically limit traffic to a car or pickup.
• "Who's to say that somebody's not taking something that weighs more than

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