Roads

33% of Alaska's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. Vehicle travel on Alaska's highways increased 24% from 1990 to 2003. Alaska's population grew 18% between 1990 and 2003. The Alaska Department of Transportation estimates that the agency's maintenance needs are under-funded at least $40 million annually. Driving on roads in need of repair costs Alaska motorists $102 million a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs -- $212 per motorist. Congestion in the Anchorage metropolitan area costs commuters $87 per person in excess fuel and lost time.

Bridges

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

Dams

There are 26 state-determined deficient dams in Alaska. Alaska has 18 high hazard dams. A high hazard dam is defined as a dam whose failure would cause a loss of life and significant property damage. The rehabilitation cost for Alaska's most critical dams is estimated at $7.3 million

Drinking Water

Alaska's drinking water infrastructure needs $585.2 million over the next 20 years

Wastewater

Alaska has $560 million in wastewater infrastructure needs.

Schools

69% of Alaska's schools have at least one inadequate building feature. 80% of Alaska's schools have at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition.

Engineer Anecdotes

"Anchorage has an ambitious long-range plan (Anchorage 2020) which the community is trying to follow as a yardstick to making it a better place to live." - a civil engineer from Anchorage, AK


From the Headlines

With the Valley growing faster than the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District can build new schools, officials are examining dramatic changes to the school day. The changes under review include year-round classes, double shifts, and sending students from bulging classrooms in the Wasilla and Palmer areas to roomier schools in Big Lake or Sutton. Crowded classes are already a problem, especially at Wasilla High School and several elementary schools, where students as young as first graders attend school in portable classrooms. Next year, about 3,070 children are expected to crowd a group of core-area elementary schools built to hold about 2,700. Anchorage Daily News 11/23/04



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