The 2018 Report Card for Connecticut’s Infrastructure was released by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE) Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). According to a ASCE press release, the five categories of infrastructure was given an overall grade of “C-.” This report includes an evaluation of the state’s bridges, drinking water, rail, roads and wastewater.
However, the state’s roads and wastewater are in poor condition, according to the press release. Both earning grades of “D+.” Most roads are in poor or fair condition. More than half of the network is over 55 years old. According to the ASCE press release, $30 billion is needed to provide roadway facilities that would meet expectations of roadway users within 30 years.
The state’s wastewater infrastructure needs major repairs and rehabilitation due to aging. According to the press release, a $4.6 billion investment is required to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows alone. The state is home to almost 50 sewage plants that have been identified as “high-risk” for flooding during major storms. This is a concern as storms intensify and the infrastructure ages.
“There are bright spots in this report, but it is clear that we must prioritize our infrastructure systems to keep our state competitive and grow our economy,” said David Chapman, president of the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers.
According to the press release, rail earned the highest grade of a “B.” About 41 million passengers ride on the Metro-North Railroad system annually, making it the busiest railroad system in the country. The report stated that the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT), has invested nearly $780 million in the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Line.
The grades are as follows: bridges (C-), drinking water (C-), rail (B), roads (D+) and wastewater (D+). There were also other major findings in the report. 7.8% of bridges in Connecticut are structurally deficient compared to the 8.9% nationwide, including some of the state’s largest and most heavily traveled bridges. Other findings were that more than 3.6 million tons of freight are moved anually on 10 freight railroads and poorly maintained roads and congestion costs driver $2.4 billion annually.
The report also offered solutions to address the state’s infrastructure needs. The recommendations included continuing to prioritize investment in infrastructure during budget cycles and modernizing and building resilient infrastructure to prepare for increasingly severe storms.
