Roads

32% of Tennessee's major urban roads are congested. Vehicle travel on Tennessee's highways increased 48% from 1990 to 2003. Tennessee's population grew 20% between 1990 and 2003. Driving on roads in need of repair costs Tennessee motorists $636 million a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs --- $152 per motorist. Congestion in the Memphis area costs commuters $547 per person per year in excess fuel and lost time. Congestion in the Nashville area costs commuters $730 per person per year in excess fuel and lost time

Bridges

21% of Tennessee's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

Dams

There are 8 state-determined deficient dams in Tennessee. Tennessee has 147 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 Tennessee's most critical dams is estimated at $23.5 million.

Drinking Water

Tennessee's drinking water infrastructure need is $1.4 billion over the next 20 years.

Wastewater

Tennessee has $604 million in wastewater infrastructure needs.

Solid Waste

Tennessee generates 1.27 tons of solid waste per capita Tennessee recycles 26.4% of the state's solid waste

Schools

56% of Tennessee's schools have at least one inadequate building feature. 64% of Tennessee's schools have at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition.

From the Headlines

Concrete pieces from the underside of the Briley Parkway bridge fell onto Interstate 40 in Donelson causing delays. The concrete fragments were from a 4- to 5-foot-wide piece of patching on the bottom of the bridge that broke off in pieces, the majority landing close to the interstate median. Mark Holloran, regional director of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, estimated that some of the falling pieces were an inch to 2 inches thick. He said the pieces he saw were about as big as a fist. To his knowledge, no injuries or damage had been reported, Holloran said. Holloran said the concrete fell because of the bridge's age. The Tennessean 5/21/04

The Demonbreun Street Bridge will take three years to tear down and rebuild and will cost $8.3 million, officials say. Officials said the 74-year-old structure, shut down after it failed a safety inspection, will need to be removed and replaced. The decaying bridge had been of concern to state and local officials for years. In 2002, Metro closed the bridge to all bus traffic and other heavy vehicles in an effort to prolong its life. The bridge's weight limit was set at 5 tons, which basically limited it to cars and pickup trucks. The bus moratorium forced the Metro Transit Authority to reroute buses and close its Clement Landport bus terminal that connects to the bridge. A June 10, 2003, TDOT inspection report found the bridge in "poor condition" and said parts of it had "worsened significantly." The Tennessean 7/16/04

State road officials have determined that the Moores Lane bridge that crosses over Interstate 65 has deteriorated so much it won't make it through another winter. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is working with the city of Brentwood on a major repair project for the state route. TDOT Assistant Director of Construction David Layhew said the agency has been watching the aging bridge for some time. He said "pop-outs" about a month ago - occurrences similar to potholes on a road - alerted TDOT that repairs need to be made. The Tennessean 7/28/04



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