JUNCTION CITY (KSNT) - Junction City has the most trafficked bridge in critical condition in Kansas, according to federal transportation officials. The Trooper Drive bridge crossing the Republican River on the north side of Junction City sees more than 13,800 vehicles daily, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHA). The steel multi-beam bridge was built in 1985 and takes Washington Street over the river. The bridge has an overall length of 428 feet and a deck area of 16,715 feet. The DOT considers the bridge in poor condition with some critical features. How to drive in Kansas with a suspended license The FHA has the bridge listed as "scour critical". Scour is an engineering term for the erosion of the soil around a bridge's foundation. Scour happens when fast-moving water removes sediment from the foundation. Bridges are scour critical when the bridge foundations are found to be unstable. 27 News spoke to Junction City Director of Public Works Ray Ibarra who said the bridge needs repairs on the expansion devices but is safe for motorists to drive on. "A Level three “scour critical “ on a bridge inspection means that the bridge is considered highly vulnerable to scour, indicating a significant potential for erosion around the bride foundations, potentially compromising its structural stability and requiring immediate attention and mitigation measures," Ibarra said. Deadly and costly train derailments over the years in Shawnee County The Trooper Drive Bridge was given a scour level of three - foundations unstable - by the FHA. Ibarra said the bridge didn't have scour issues noted by city inspectors. Some other findings from the National Bridge Inventory on the bridge include: Bridge superstructure is in poor condition. Does not meet transition standards. Bridge guardrail ends don't meet acceptable standards. Bridge railings don't meet standards. "There is repairs that need to be done on the expansion devices at the abutment bearings as well as the rocker bearings which the City plans on making in the next few years and applying for KDOT’s Local Bridge Improvement Program," Ibarra said. Ibarra said Junction City applied for the Local Bridge Improvement Program in 2023 but wasn't selected. He said the city will continue to apply for KDOT funding. Local boxer reacts to Jake Paul – Mike Tyson fight You can read through the full bridge summary report from the DOT below: Bridge_Summary_20 - Kansas_000000000310002_2024 by Colter Robinson on Scribd For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.