Despite the efforts of the USA to be always at the forefront of the infrastructure industry, it still faces a problem of maintaining and modernizing its deteriorating infrastructure.
Every American knows this problem: structurally defective system, functionally obsolete or outdated infrastructure system, flickering electrical grid, and inadequate funding to eliminate, if not lessen, the nation’s infrastructure upgrade backlog.
Ineffective infrastructure asset management, weather and natural disasters, terrorist activities and other related events have been identified as sources of infrastructure protection community’s risk environment in recent years.
With these critical factors, the devastating infrastructure system hinders the day-to-day living of the affected Americans and entails a huge amount of budget for its inspection, maintenance, and repairs.
Among the country’s aging and failing infrastructure that has been identified are 20% of structure defective bridges in Pennsylvania; structural defective bridges in Rhode Island, South Dakota, Florida, Nevada, Hawaii, Washington D.C., Macau, Rhode Island, and Puerto Rico; and other elements of failing infrastructure
While the USA has tried to regain the steady growth of its infrastructure system, the American Society of Civil Engineers has graded the nation’s latest trend of infrastructure such as the imperiled rails, roads, transportations, bridges, water and other existing elements of infrastructure systems, including the national grid with a D+ grades as contained in its annual official report card.
The aging and failing infrastructure affect the quality of life of the expected significant increase of the population in the coming years to come, eventually impacting on the nation’s economy.
The big question is how much time to fix the deteriorating infrastructure. This calls for an answer from the government, the people, and the private sectors.
For the government, it needs to consider a consistent stance on its asset management strategy, which is essential for the country’s economic vitality.
The strategic initiatives would focus on key target areas such as investing at least US$1.6 trillion on the next five years to rebuild American’s infrastructure and enjoining the corporations as well as working wealthy elites to contribute more to tax revenues.
For the citizens, taking part in rebuilding the country’s aging and failing infrastructure is ideal.
Having quality time in sharing bright ideas is a way of helping transform the country’s infrastructure.
Doing so will definitely share in providing a quality life for all and producing a significant increase in the economic effectiveness.
For the private sectors, it is hoped that they will remain as active partners to the steady growth of the country’s infrastructure.
Recognizing the importance of an effective infrastructure asset management in the bustling climate of business operations and the desired quality of life of the people, it is imperative to address the critical issue of ailing infrastructure squarely with emphasis on the time frame.
Again, the question as to how much time to fix it needs the concerted and combined efforts of both the government, the people, the private sectors and the stakeholders.
If fixing the decaying infrastructure is also improving the economy, will the government invest in strategic infrastructure asset management planning to ensure better asset infrastructure condition now and in the future?