U.S. highways and bridges continue their decline

Paying for Infrastructure

Silver Lining

U.S. highways and bridges continue their decline, and there is no prospect for a federal program on the horizon.

President Donald Trump has presided over several Infrastructure Weeks since he took the oath of office and they’ve become, more than anything else, a time to recognize a national priority that is being neglected by the United States government. A White House meeting with Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made headlines in April when the two agreed to make progress on a two-trillion dollar infrastructure program. But they haven’t agreed on how to pay for such a package - and without that, America’s infrastructure will continue its downhill slide.

US infrastructure is undisputedly in a state of disrepair. A recent report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association found that 47,000 bridges are structurally deficient and nearly two-third of those have been deficient since at least 2014.