The cost of a crumbling infrastructure

The I-35W bridge collapse

When President Obama's stimulus package was described as "the largest investment in infrastructure since the creation of the interstate highway system under Dwight D. Eisenhower", it was hoped that the country would see a slew of mega-projects, but instead a significant amount was given to repairing the nation's infrastructure, targeting roads, bridges, and other public works.

At the time, Infrastructure US stated that many states were not using the money designated to infrastructure from Obama's emergency funding as they should be, instead choosing to spend it on 'easier projects'. As such, thousands of American bridges were deemed to be structurally unsafe because of this.

A study at the time by the Associated Press revealed that nearly half of the 2476 bridges that were due to receive stimulus cash had to fight over the $1.2 billion given for repairs, despite these bridges receiving high inspection ratings. In contrast, of the $17 billion transportation stimulus money from the Obama administration, 70 percent was said to be spent on 'easier projects' such as the re-surfacing of roads.

Politics to blame?

Today, a report from the US Public Interest Research Group, titled "Road Work Ahead: Holding Government Accountable for Fixing America's Crumbling Roads and Bridges," states that the deterioration of America's roads and bridges is "no accident". It is, the report states, "the direct result of countless policy decisions that put other considerations ahead of the pressing need to preserve our investment in the highway system.

"Political forces often undermine a strong commitment to maintenance: Members of Congress, state legislators and local politicians thrive on ribbon-cuttings. Powerful special interests push for new and bigger highways. Meanwhile, federal and state policies - which should provide strong guidance in the wise use of taxpayer dollars - often fail to achieve the proper balance between building new infrastructure and taking care of what we already have built."

Essentially, new shiny mega-projects may be good for politicans' images, but as a result crumbling bridges and pot-holed roads are commonplace.

What the report also states is how ignoring the crumbling infrastructure will financially come back to bite politicians further down the road, citing the collapse of the I-35W bridge as an example.

According to the report, The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) estimates that poor road conditions cost US motorists $67 billion a year in terms of repairs and operating costs. On top of that poor, road conditions contributed to more than 11,000 of the 34,000 highway fatalities of 2009.

Relevant articles:

Why the US needs ITS | China to aid US high-speed rail? | Making mass transit safe with technology

Timon Singh

Timon Singh is a graduate of Liverpool University where he received a degree in Social and Economic History. He has previously worked for BBC Magazines on BBC Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the publication for the popular genealogy show.

Like this article? Get the RSS feed: