Harvard Review Looks at the Road Ahead for the Nation's Infrastructure

January 11, 2017 - The aging infrastructure is an area that nearly everyone can agree needs some work. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the nation’s highways and bridges face an $808.2 billion backlog of investment spending, including $479.1 billion in critically needed repairs. More than two-thirds of the nation’s roads and nearly 143,000 bridges are classified in “dire need” of repair or upgrades.

On the campaign trail, Trump proposed $1 trillion in federal spending to repair and rebuild roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, railroads, and ports, as well as other systems involving energy, water, and telecommunications. He argues that having a national infrastructure that’s “second to none” will enhance economic growth and U.S. competitiveness and create millions of well-paying jobs. Since the election, he has signaled that getting an infrastructure plan off the ground will be a priority in his administration’s first 100 days.

Read more as the Harvard Review looks at the road ahead for the nation's infrastructure.