ASCE: More bad grades for state of union's infrastructure

RESTON, VA, Oct. 13, 2004 (Newstream) -- The condition of our nation's roads, bridges, drinking water systems and other public works have shown little improvement since they were graded an overall D+ in 2001, with some areas sliding toward failing grades, concluded the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in a recent report.

Just one year ago the failure of the electrical grid in the Northeast and Midwest left millions in the dark, and brought other infrastructure systems to a grinding halt. New York City's mass transit was stopped in its tracks leaving millions of commuters stranded. Cleveland's water treatment facilities failed, leaving citizens wondering how they were to boil water without electricity.

Today, the need for infrastructure investment has never been higher.

For instance:
-- One in four bridges in the U.S. is structurally deficient.
-- Seventy-five percent of schools cannot provide adequate environments for our children.
-- Nearly one-third of our major roads are in poor condition, contributing to over 13,000 highway deaths each year.
With a federal deficit of $450 billion, resources for infrastructure are growing scare. What does this mean to America's security and economy?

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is the oldest national professional engineering society in the U.S. ASCE is known for its leadership on issues confronting the nation's infrastructure. In addition to its widely sited Report Cards for America's Infrastructure, ASCE led the studies of the structural performance of the Twin Towers and the Pentagon following the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

For more on this report including comments of ASCE President Patricia Galloway, visit www.newstream.com/cgi-bin/display_story.cgi?15790 or the society's website at www.asce.org

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