In addition to the online map of heavily traveled bridges, msnbc.com is making available state-by-state files of all bridges in the nation, including summaries of their condition and inspection information.

Those Excel files are posted at

http://powerreporting.com/files/msnbc

Start by reading the first file in that directory, conveniently named "read this file first."

If you make any use of the information in these files, please credit: "Msnbc.com analysis of National Bridge Inventory through 2006, as reported by states in April 2007." Also, in text or online, please provide a link to our articles and online map: http://bridges.msnbc.com/.

Please let us know if you have any problems with the files.