Our Failing Infrastructure

President-elect Barack Obama announced his economic recovery plans late last week, and at the top of his list to create jobs is a plan to invest in infrastructure. We all know that unemployment is on the rise – and the construction industry is especially hard hit - so Obama’s plan that aims to create 2.5 million jobs is welcome news when we’ve become so used to bad news lately.

Not only does President-elect Obama’s plan take into account the need to put people to work today, but also looks ahead to the future. “These aren’t just steps to pull ourselves out of this immediate crisis; these are the long-term investments in our economic future that have been ignored for far too long.” Obama is echoing what ASCE has been saying for a long time: fixing the nation’s bridges, locks, and dams puts people to work, improves public safety and quality of life, and helps fuel our economic growth.

While it is great to see the Transition Team taking a proactive role in improving the nation’s infrastructure, an even more encouraging sign that help is on the way, is that the public is beginning to realize the severity of the situation and demand a fix. In Minnesota last week, University of Minnesota professors and students hosted an event to talk about the causes of the collapse of the I-35 W Bridge. The panel examined the findings of the NTSB report on the bridge, but framed the event in the larger issue of infrastructure improvement. Professor Roberto Ballarini, Ph.D, P.E., F.ASCE, of UMN points out that the collapse opened people’s eyes to the widespread problem of poor infrastructure condition. He also warned of an economic “brain drain” in the U.S. if smart and creative people can’t get to work or get the services they need.

To read the article and listen to the audio from MPR, check out http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/11/19/ballarini_infrastructure.  

ASCE’s most recent Report Card for America’s Infrastructure  graded the condition of the nation’s infrastructure at a D and called for $1.6 trillion over five years to bring the condition up to an acceptable level. The need for jobs and infrastructure improvement is well documented - now is the time to put the two together and solve both problems.

Calling all photographers and videographers!

ASCE is sponsoring a photo and video contest for the 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.

A great way you can help us draw attention to the failing condition of our nation’s infrastructure is by sending us images and videos from across the country.

- Is a nearby bridge sagging?

- Is a local body of water contaminated due to sewage outflow?

- Has a dam failure in your area caused property damage?

Got a picture of it? We want to see it!

Winners will receive a cash prize and their entries may be used in promotional materials for the 2009 Report Card.

Get full contest details and enter at: http://www.asce.org/reportcard/2005/index.cfm 

As if I’m the only person reminding you – but it’s so important it bears repeating: VOTE TUESDAY!

If you haven’t quite figured out where you’re supposed to go or what to do- your county or city registrar’s website should have all the details you need.

You can also use ASCE’ “Click and Connect with Congress”  website for information about the candidates and issues on the ballot.

And if you’re so sick of the commercials, phone calls, signs, etc – just look at it this way, it will all be over on Wednesday!