Construction Law
A Look at Our Nation’s Highways Part 1
While highways and roads make up only a portion of our nation’s vast infrastructure, they remain vital for maintaining our way of life. Highway infrastructure is not only important for supporting other infrastructure systems, but it’s also a source of high-profile projects for the construction industry. In this two-part article, a West Palm construction lawyer with Cotney Attorneys & Consultants will be taking a look at America’s highway infrastructure and how infrastructure investments impact the construction industry.
The Current State of Our Highways
Our highways are in desperate need of repair. As we’ve covered previously, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave road infrastructure a D grade. As the report states, “One out of every five miles of highway pavement is in poor condition and our roads have a significant and increasing backlog of rehabilitation needs.” Congestion, delays, wasted fuel, and traffic fatalities increase as our highways degrade. Of course, you don’t need a report to feel these effects. Highways are among our most expansive and regularly used forms of infrastructure. It’s unlikely you’ve never experienced a traffic jam as a result of a highway in need of repair.
What Needs to Happen to Repair Our Roads?
The ASCE provides a comprehensive list of solutions for raising that embarrassing D grade. This list includes technology, policy, and program recommendations. Chief among these is the need for all levels of government to fund highway work. Of note, the report states that increased funding is needed “from all levels of government and the private sector to tackle the massive backlog of highway needs.” Specifically, $420 billion is needed to repair our highways.
We couldn’t agree more. Our government must invest and place its trust in the construction industry and its ability to solve the infrastructure crisis. However, that may already be the case. As we continue in part two, we will discuss how current highway infrastructure spending stacks up with the needs stated above. We will also touch on the unique challenges that construction companies face when tackling the infrastructure crisis. If your company is facing a challenge of its own on a highway project, you can always contact an experienced West Palm construction lawyer from Cotney Construction Law.
If you would like to speak with a West Palm construction attorney, please contact us today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.