2025 ASCE Report Card: Bridges earn C, Roads get D+
By Gavin Jenkins, Senior Managing Editor
America’s infrastructure has earned a passing grade, but the nation’s roads, while improving, still might need to attend summer school.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has released the 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, and there is reason for optimism. The Report Card’s overall grade rose from a C- to a C.
Every four years, the ASCE releases its Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. It depicts the condition and performance of the country’s infrastructure in the form of a school report card.
In 16 categories, grades increased or stayed the same since the previous report — a clear indication that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was passed under President Biden, is working.
“We have seen the difference investment can make in improving infrastructure,” said Feniosky Peña-Mora, 2025 ASCE President.
The 2025 Report Card boasts the highest grade point average that the ASCE has ever given the country’s infrastructure, and it is the first time since 1988, the Report Card’s inaugural year, that there has not been a D-.
America’s bridges scored a C, the same score it earned in 2021. The country’s roads received a D+. Though this is not welcome news, it is an improvement from 2021, when it got a D.
“While infrastructure is often out of sight, out of mind, when there are deficiencies, we all feel the impact,” said Darren Olson, P.E., Chair of the Committee on America’s Infrastructure at a press conference.
Along with the nation’s roads and bridges, the Report Card examines aviation, broadband, dams, drinking water, energy, hazardous waste, inland waterways, levees, ports, public parks, rial, schools, solid waste, stormwater, transit and wastewater.
Transit received a D, tying it with stormwater for the lowest grade. Ports earned the highest grade with a B. The new category of broadband received a C+ grade. However, energy (D+) and rail (B-) received declining grades due to safety and capacity concerns.
The Report Card indicated that 39% of major roads in America — more than 4.1 million miles of public roadways — are in poor or mediocre condition. This an improvement from the 43% recorded previously. The Report Card states that America’s roads cost drivers money, pose a serious health risk, are vulnerable to extreme weather and need more funding.
According to the Report Card, driving on deteriorated and congested roads costs the average American driver $1,400 a year in vehicle operating costs and lost time.
In 2023, 40,990 people died on the country’s roads, which is a decrease since the last Report Card but is still high.
Speaking of a number that is low but still too high, America has 623,000 bridges and 6.8% are in poor condition. However, of those the country’s total amount of bridges, 49.1% are in fair condition, 44.1% are in good condition and, according to the Report Card, the nation continues to see the number of fair bridges surpassing those in good condition.
The fair bridges are aging, which creates the possibility of being further downgraded. These aging bridges are vulnerable to accidents and extreme weather.
The average age of an American bridge is 47.
The IIJA boosted the state of America’s bridges, with $27.5 billion for the Bridge Formula Program and $12.5 billion for the Bridge Investment Program. And yet, bridge-related system rehabilitation needs are estimated at $191 billion.
It might be safe to say America’s bridges are underfunded and in need of more attention.
The ASCE received its data on America’s roads and bridges from TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit.
According to TRIP’s data, Iowa and Pennsylvania have the highest number of bridges in poor condition. Iowa has 19% of the state’s 23,719 bridges in poor condition, while Pennsylvania has 13% of its 23,2999 in poor condition.
Texas has the highest number of total bridges for states with 56,729, and it still has fewer bridges in poor condition than any other state.
Laura Butterbrodt, an information specialist for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said the state of Texas’ bridges reflects how the department has prioritized bridge innovation and preservation, along with long-standing construction practices and standards, as well as the efforts to combat extreme weather.
“For example, TxDOT has a design manual that helps ensure uniformity in design and construction of bridges across Texas,” Butterbrodt said in an email. “In addition, TxDOT’s strong collaboration with contractors and fabricators ensures our design and construction methods are aligned with industry capabilities and best practices. This partnership allows for early input from fabricators and contractors, leads to improved constructability of our designs, better material use and improved construction efficiency.”
TxDOT is a leader in innovation. It embraced advanced 3D modeling and accelerated bridge construction (ABC) techniques to streamline the design and construction process, according to Butterbrodt.
“TxDOT leverages advanced software for structural design and analysis, ensuring our bridges are safe and resilient,” Butterbrodt said. “TxDOT’s robust research program, in collaboration with leading universities and industry partners, has been instrumental in developing and implementing new materials and improved construction methods.”
Of course, with that many bridges in Texas, communication is crucial. Butterbrodt attributed TxDOT’s success with keeping an open dialogue with local governments, consultant partners, contractors, fabricators and internal teams.
“Through robust internal communications and constant contact with municipalities and the public, TxDOT works to ensure bridges meet the needs of Texans throughout the state,” she said.
TRIP’s data also shows that some states have made incredible progress on the shape of its roads. According to TRIP, the following states have over half its of roadways rated in good condition: Alabama (60%), Florida (53%), Georgia (57%), Idaho (72%), Indiana (75%), Maine (50%), Minnesota (57%), Montana (56%), Nebraska (71%), New Hampshire (51%), New Jersey (51%), North Dakota (69%), Ohio (53%), Oregon (64%), South Dakota (77%), Tennessee (74%), Utah (53%), Vermont (78%) and Wyoming (72%).
Natalie Garrett, strategic communications director for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), attributed the state of Indiana’s roads to hard work and a new agency mindset about taking care of transportation assets.
“This was sparked in part by the passage of HEA 1002 back in 2017, allowing INDOT to build on what was already started in terms of asset management,” Garrett said in an email. “Post-passage of HEA 1002, INDOT has an asset management plan for every bridge, culvert and road segment, looking ahead to the next 20 years and beyond. This plan includes capital program projects in addition to how the agency will maintain assets with maintenance forces.”
Garrett said that INDOT has become more proactive in the maintenance of state assets to ensure they stay in better condition, intervening early and often.
“For the past several years, INDOT, along with our industry partners, has made a concerted effort to collaborate and foster teamwork,” said Garrett. “These partnerships have led to improvements in how we design, build, and maintain our roads, bridges, and infrastructure. An example of this is the formation of the Indiana Transportation Team, where INDOT receives routine feedback on what is working and where or how we can improve. By soliciting knowledge and feedback from our industry partners, we have found more cost-effective, innovative, and safer ways to build projects and manage the agency’s long-term plan and capital program.
Garrett said that innovation has been crucial to INDOT’s success improving and managing its roadways.
“INDOT has developed a scoping application that allows the agency to identify the needs of individual capital program projects to ensure they meet those of the asset, local community, and agency as a whole,” Garrett said. “Additionally, INDOT uses a life-cycle optimization strategy to schedule work for our roads and bridges, looking at every asset to determine the best timing for rehabilitation activities. This information is confirmed by crews in the field and timing is adjusted accordingly.”
While there is a lot to celebrate with the Report Card, the ASCE makes it clear that sustained investment, prioritizing resiliency, and advancing policy and innovation are vital to making sure that America’s infrastructure continues to improve.
The IIJA has shown that investing in infrastructure works. But the law just celebrated its third birthday, and it goes away after it turns five. If America’s roads and bridges don’t receive another investment similar to the IIJA, the next Report Card might not be as promising. RB
