SALEM Ore. (KPTV) – On Tuesday, the American Society of Civil Engineers released the 2024 report card for Oregon’s infrastructure and the state earned a C-.
It’s the same grade the state got in 2019.
A C- means the state’s infrastructure is in fair condition and requires attention.
Oregon’s grade is the same as the national average on the 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure.
Seven of the 12 categories in the Oregon report card got higher grades than the national level. Two categories (energy and wastewater) got the same grade as their national counterparts, while two other categories bridges and ports) have a grade lower than the national average.
Oregon’s schools received an incomplete grade due to a lack of data about their condition.
“Even though Oregon’s grade remained the same since the last Report Card, there have been positive steps forward to improve the resiliency of Oregon’s infrastructure and ensure those systems are capable of handling potential earthquakes, the consequences of climate change, and other hazards,” said Ana Tijerina Esquino, Chair of the 2024 Report Card for Oregon’s Infrastructure. “While Oregon’s infrastructure is seeing benefits from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other short-term funding programs, leaders at all levels need to ensure those systems have reliable, consistent, and sustainable funding to ensure they remain safe and reliable in the future.”
Oregon’s roads received a ‘C’ grade, while bridges received a ‘C-”, both of which are one-step below the 2019 grade. The percentage of state highways in poor condition grew from 10% in 2019 to 12% in 2024.
During the same time, the amount of roads in good condition fell from 65% to 58%.
There is a growing number of bridges that have been downgraded from good to fair condition. Many bridges in Oregon are also close to or exceeding their design life, with 53 percent of bridges in the state more than 50 years old. Current funding levels for bridge maintenance provide about half the projected need to keep the state’s bridges in their current condition.
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