Louisiana gets a C- on federal infrastructure report card

Louisiana’s C- grade in the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, released today by the American Society of Civil Engineers, is better than the nation’s collective D+ grade. Nonetheless, the state chapter of ASCE responded to the report by calling on the state Legislature “to begin working on long-term solutions” for the state’s infrastructure needs. According to the report, more than half of the roads in the state—62%—are in poor or mediocre shape, and shoddy conditions are costing the average motorist $408 per year as a result of extra vehicle repairs and operating expenses. Among other details revealed, the report says $6.9 billion is needed to maintain and upgrade the state’s drinking water infrastructure over the next 20 years, and $4 billion for its wastewater system. Today’s national report is composed of a number of state ASCE chapter reports. Louisiana’s chapter released its report card last year. Of the nine areas studied in the state report card, only dams and solid waste received above-average grades, a B- and C+, respectively. The other grades were: aviation, C; bridges, D+; drinking water, D+; levees, C-; roads, D; wastewater, C-; and ports, C-. You can check out Louisiana’s complete report card as released by the ASCE today here; and access the grades for the United States as a whole and for other states here.