In February 2015, chunks of concrete fell from a bridge in Maryland, landing on a woman’s
car as she drove under it. Every year in the U.S., hundreds of deaths and injuries are
attributed to failing infrastructure like bridges and dams and roads. A 2013 report
by the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. a D+ on infrastructure. So,
why is America’s infrastructure collapsing?
Well, as a matter of fact, the US was once a world leader in infrastructure, which played
a huge role in the country’s development. Railroads allowed for westward expansion,
and led to a fast growing infrastructure network. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed
the Federal Aid Highway Act, starting the most expensive public works project ever,
priced at about half a trillion dollars. At the time, it was an issue of defense as well
as everyday convenience: in the event of a Soviet attack, the interstate highways would
allow for the easy transportation of people and military equipment. The Interstate Highway
System ended up stretching nearly 50,000 miles.
But today, the highways are crumbling. According to the Department of Transportation, as many
as 14,000 deaths every year can be tied to poor road conditions. In the World Economic
Forum rankings, America ranks 16th in overall infrastructure. And a 2014 White House report
said that 65% of American roadways are in poor condition—plus one in four bridges
are in need of repair.
So, how did it get this way? Well, our transportation and infrastructure system is funded by something
called the Highway Trust Fund. This fund is generated from gas taxes, which have not risen
alongside inflation since 1993. On top of a stagnant tax, cars have become increasingly
fuel efficient, and overall people are driving less. This creates two problems. The first
is that states and local governments are unsure if the trust fund will help them complete
infrastructure projects, thus keeping them from ever being started. The second is that
without federal assistance, the money which is available is used to pay off government
debts from the last few years of instability. In short, there isn’t enough money, and
infrastructure is not a priority.
So what is the US government doing about it? Well, in November, the house passed a bill
allocating $300 billion dollars towards failing infrastructure. This act of bipartisan cooperation
will help bolster some improvements. However, the new bill plans out six years worth of
projects, while funding only three years. Without this injection of funds, the highway
trust was actually expected to run dry in August.
America’s failing infrastructure is an example of reallocation of government priorities,
especially during turbulent times. Instead of spending money on fixing roads and bridges,
there are debts and financial defense obligations which come first. Since America’s roads
are no longer as militarily important as they were in 1956, it seems unlikely that there
will be much more money allocated towards them in the coming years.
The US spend a huge amount on its infrastructure, but what are some other massive, expensive,
megaprojects? Watch this video to find out! Thanks for watching! Stay up to date with
more TestTube News by subscribing to our channel. We’ll see you next time.