COCKEYSVILLE, Md. —
The 103-year-old Warren Road Bridge in Cockeysville, spanning the Loch Raven Reservoir and used daily by drivers and school buses, has sparked safety concerns due to its deteriorating condition, with federal inspection records rating it "poor" for nearly a decade.
'I noticed something dangling down'
Kevin Brennan, who noticed damage to the bridge while paddling his canoe on the reservoir, described what he saw.
"As I was approaching, I noticed something dangling down," Brennan told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates. "As I got closer, I was like, 'Oh, this is a piece of steel.' Studying it a little more, I saw a couple other pieces that were rusted through, broken, and it's cause for concern."
Delegate refuses to cross the bridge
Baltimore County Delegate Michele Guyton, D-District 42B, who lives near the bridge, has avoided driving across it and advises others to do the same.
"I live near the bridge, and right now, I'm driving 10 minutes out of my way wherever I go so I don't have to cross the bridge, and I'm telling my family and friends to do the same," Guyton told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates.
Bridge has closed for repairs over the years
WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates reported in December 2025 that the bridge has temporarily closed for emergency repairs over the years, including in 2016, 2019 and 2023. In the most recent case, an inspection found steel support beams were corroded. Transportation officials said at the time that the beams "deteriorated at a faster rate than anticipated."
Archive video below: Delegate continues sounding alarm on bridge (December 2025)
Six months ago, Guyton sent a letter to the city of Baltimore, which owns and maintains the bridge, after learning that "competing interests" had delayed replacement plans.
"We were told there would be a new bridge by 2025," Guyton told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates. "Here we are, in the middle of 2026 and there is no action on the bridge."
Inspection reports shows deterioration despite repairs
WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates reviewed national bridge inspection database reports, which show the steel structure continues to deteriorate despite reconstruction work in the 1990s and repeated repairs since then.
Former Maryland highway transportation engineer Jim Hagerty, who spent 30 years auditing bridge inspections, expressed concern after reviewing the data.
"That alarmed me, seeing that federal highway report," Hagerty told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates.
'I see a failure of maintenance'
Hagerty noted that the bridge's condition reflects advanced deterioration, with rust compromising the steel's integrity.
"Oh, it's major," Hagerty told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates. "It tells you that the rust, in that example, the steel is not as thick as elsewhere, but that rust in that particular member has gone all the way through."
Archive video below: Community concerned over 103-year-old bridge (November 2025)
Hagerty attributed the bridge's condition to a failure of proper maintenance and said the structure has reached the end of its lifespan.
"In short, I see a failure of maintenance, of appropriate maintenance," Hagerty told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates. "This should be a priority, given its age. They know. Everybody knows this steel is not up to standards."
City: Bridge is safe; funding needed for new structure
City officials, however, maintain that the bridge is safe to drive. They stated that the Warren Road Bridge is regularly inspected and closely monitored, and that the deteriorated steel braces beneath the bridge do not pose an immediate safety concern.
Six months ago, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works said design work for a replacement bridge was advancing, but construction funding was not yet secured. Guyton confirmed that the design is complete but said funding remains an issue.
Archive video below: Heavily used bridge to close for repairs again (July 2023)
"I have an update," Guyton told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates. "There is a design for the bridge. I actually met the engineer, and it's a beautiful bridge design. My understanding is it's ready to go. The problem with the bridge is the funding, not the design. The funding was appropriated elsewhere, and that's a concern for me."
DPW confirmed that a new bridge is in the works and said it is pursuing funding opportunities.
"The city remains committed to identifying a responsible path forward for the Warren Road Bridge and will continue working with all stakeholders to secure the resources necessary to replace the structure," DPW said in a statement sent to told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates, adding that it plans to seek state funding assistance.
Expert expresses urgency to avoid crisis
Brennan emphasized the importance of addressing the bridge's condition before it becomes a crisis.
"It's going to impact a lot of people in this county," Brennan told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates.
Hagerty echoed the urgency.
"There's a reason people say a chain is only as strong as its weakest link," Hagerty told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates.
When asked whether he would drive over the bridge, Hagerty told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates: "No, no. I'm going to visit, probably on one end, and then drive around. No, I don't have that kind of luck."
DPW's full statement
"Public safety remains the city of Baltimore's top priority. The Warren Road Bridge is regularly inspected and closely monitored, and city transportation officials have determined that it remains safe for travel.
"The city remains committed to identifying a responsible path forward for the Warren Road Bridge and will continue working with all stakeholders to secure the resources necessary to replace the structure. The design for a replacement bridge has been completed, and the city is actively pursuing funding opportunities to advance the project.
"Department of Public Works Director Matthew Garbark continues to meet with state and local officials, including Delegate Guyton, and has most recently discussed the city's plans to seek state funding assistance for the bridge replacement.
"The bridge remains subject to routine inspections, with the most recent inspection completed in December 2025.
"The city is aware of the photos recently shared with the media. The images depict deteriorated cross-bracing members beneath the bridge that were documented during the most recent inspection. These are secondary steel components and are not primary structural members of the bridge. Baltimore City Department of Transportation officials have advised that the condition shown in the photos does not pose an immediate safety concern."