Roads

32% of Alabama's major urban roads are congested. Vehicle travel on Alabama's highways increased 38% from 1990 to 2003. Alabama's population grew 11% between 1990 and 2003. In 2004, Governor Riley withdrew $48.2 million from the transportation trust fund to balance the state budget. Driving on roads in need of repair costs Alabama motorists $368 million a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs--$102 per motorist. Congestion in the Birmingham area costs commuters $468 per person in excess fuel and lost time.

Bridges

30% of Alabama's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

Dams

Alabama is the only state without a dam safety program.

Drinking Water

Alabama's drinking water infrastructure needs $1.08 billion over the next 20 years.

Wastewater

Alabama has $2.72 billion in wastewater infrastructure needs.

Schools

59% of Alabama's schools have at least one inadequate building feature. 63% of Alabama's schools have at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition.

Engineer Anecdotes

"Maintenance is the key to an aging infrastructure."- a civil engineer from Birmingham, AL

"There is too little emphasis on 'life-cycle-costs' for public improvements and almost never a fund for rehab and/or replacement included in the financing."- a civil engineer from Lillian, AL


From the Headlines

A large spill of raw sewage from a broken sewer line was followed by fecal bacteria levels at least 170 times as high as the levels considered safe by federal regulators for freshwater recreation areas. Tests conducted by the Alabama Coastal Foundation on water samples from Eight Mile Creek showed concentrations of enterococcus and fecal bacteria that were among the worst recorded in the Mobile area. Concentrations of enterococcus bacteria - often considered the best indicator of fecal matter associated with humans and animals - were 11,400 colonies per 100 milliliters of creek water. Associated Press 2/10/04



Sources

Survey of the state's civil engineers conducted in December 2004

TRIP Fact Sheets, February 2005

Texas Transportation Institute, 2004 Urban Mobility Report

Government Performance Project, Grading the States 2004

The State of Garbage in America, Biocycle Magazine 2004

Condition of America's Public Schools, 1999

EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey, 2001

EPA Clean Water Needs Survey, 2000

Association of State Dam Safety Officials