Our Failing Infrastructure

The Virginia Section of ASCE this week released its 2009 Report Card for Virginia’s Infrastructure. The Old Dominion’s infrastructure rated a D+ overall.

The section’s first Report Card graded 13 infrastructure categories: aviation facilities, bridges, dams, drinking water systems, energy, parks and recreation, ports and navigable waterways, rail and transit, roads, schools, solid waste disposal facilities, stormwater management and wastewater. Individual category grades ranged from a high of B- for parks and recreation, to a low of D- for each of dams, roads and schools. The report also noted that failure to maintain and preserve the state’s resources, and to implement effective long-range infrastructure management plans, is having a negative impact on Virginia’s future.

“Commuters are losing hours each day to gridlock; the pipes that carry drinking water into our homes are aging, overused and in some case, contaminated; and our children’s classrooms are becoming increasingly crowded,” said Thomas L. Fitzgerald, section president, and chair of the Report Card Committee. “Robust infrastructure is a vital component of the health of the state’s economy and its ability to attract business and industry. Even more importantly, it is also vital to supporting and protecting the health and safety of Virginians.”

The Virginia Section also noted that Dams received a low grade of D- since new state regulations enacted in 2008 nearly doubled the number of dams requiring state inspection. Despite these stricter guidelines, the state has not provided any additional funds to carry out the inspections.

To read the full report, visit ASCE Virginia’s website.

NBC 12 in Richmond also did a great piece on the Report Card and Virginia’s failing infrastructure.

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