On the road to ruin - How America's infrastructure is failing
You’ve heard it before: America’s infrastructure is failing. Well, almost. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) reiterated its nearly-failing grade for the country’s vital infrastructure: a D+.
The ASCE report comes out once every four years, and has become a familiar bearer of bad news. But the state of the country’s roads were the standout piece of bad news in 2017.
The report found that $2 trillion would be needed over the next 10 years to get US roads back in fighting shape.
[Image: Fortune]
And there’s more reason to do that than just a smoother drive. From the report:
More than two out of every five miles of America’s urban interstates are congested and traffic delays cost the country $160 billion in wasted time and fuel in 2014.
One out of every five miles of highway pavement is in poor condition and roads have a significant and increasing backlog of rehabilitation needs.
After years of decline, traffic fatalities increased by 7% from 2014 to 2015, with 35,092 people dying on America’s roads.
President Donald Trump’s plan to spend big on infrastructure may offer some much-needed relief. However, there are some concerns over his plan to try to build infrastructure like toll roads that would pay for itself, rather than just putting up the money.
What many experts are arguing for is far less 'spectacular' than revenue-generating megaprojects, but could save more money for taxpayers in the long-term: repairing the roads that already exist.
This article was written by:
- Nicolas Rapp, Information Graphics Designer, Fortune
- Anne VanderMey, Associate Editor, Fortune
This article is published in collaboration with Fortune.
Please find the original article here.
--Future of Construction 16:27, 15 Jun 2017 (BST)
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Editor's broadbrush view on forms of electrical heating in context.
The pace of heating change; BSRIA market intelligence
Electric Dreams, Boiler Realities.
New President of ECA announced
Ruth Devine MBE becomes the 112th President of the Electrical Contractors Association.
New CIAT Professional Standards Competency Framework
Supercedes the 2019 Professional Standards Framework from 1 May 2025.
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
Free exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery until 31 May.
PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts
Published following consultation and influence from ECA.
Designing Buildings reaches 20,000 articles
We take a look back at some of the stranger contributions.
Lessons learned from other industries.
The Buildings of the Malting Industry. Book review.
Conserving places with climate resilience in mind.
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.