Photo: ASCE Hawaii SectionThe new 2019 Hawaii Infrastructure Report Card released by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Hawaii Section, gives the state’s infrastructure an overall “D+” in 11 categories, the Star Advertiser reports. Bridges received a C+, while roads received a D+.
The report recommends an increase in the state gas tax, as well as additional funding measures, to pay for the backlog of repairs needed for roads and bridges.
“The state’s roadways are among the most congested in the nation, and there is a $23 billion transportation infrastructure funding gap over the next 20 years,” ASCE Hawaii Section said in a press release, according to the news agency.
“The majority of Hawaii’s infrastructure has been operating beyond its useful life, and some components of systems are over 100 years old,” the report said, according to the news agency. “Due to a lack of funding, it has been difficult to effectively maintain and improve the existing infrastructure systems to keep up with increasing usage and rapidly changing lifestyles.”
