“Minnesotans should be proud of the progress made to improve infrastructure systems that keep businesses and communities thriving and help maintain a high quality of life for all Minnesotans,” said Hannah Albertus-Benham, PE, chair of the 2026 Report Card for Minnesota’s Infrastructure. “However, we are at risk of losing these gains as temporary infrastructure funding measures expire. Minnesota’s infrastructure systems need dependable, consistent, and sustainable funding sources to ensure communities can keep systems thriving and plan for the future.”
Minnesota’s transportation network shows signs of both progress and long-term risks. The state’s bridge grade improved from a ‘C’ to a ‘C+’ in the 2026 report card, which is one step above the national average. Only 850 of the state’s 21,038 bridges are in poor condition, a decrease from 874 poor condition bridges in 2022. More than 32 percent of bridge deck square footage in the state is more than 50 years old, and that number will grow to 50 percent in the next decade without substantial investment. Minnesota’s roads received the lowest grade on the report card of ‘D+’ which matches the national grade and is unchanged from Minnesota’s last report card. The state has more than 143,000 miles of roads, however there is $20 billion dollar road funding shortfall over the next 20 years. The state’s busiest roadways have the strongest performance, with 93 percent of interstate highway miles in Minnesota rated in good condition, compared with 70 percent in 2011. However, extreme winter weather, rising maintenance costs, and inflation continue to strain local and state budgets. Without sustained, dedicated funding focused on preservation, both systems risk higher costs, reduced reliability, and declining performance in the coming decade.
As demand for energy across the country surges due to the growth of data centers, and increased home energy use and the adoption of electric vehicles, Minnesota’s energy infrastructure improved from a ‘C’ to a ‘C+’, a full letter grade higher than the national average of ‘D+’. The state has made strong progress in clean energy generation and efficiency. More than half of the state’s electricity now comes from zero-carbon sources, positioning Minnesota as a national leader in the energy transition. However, the state continues to face significant challenges, including the fact Minnesota imports four times more energy from out of state sources than energy produced in Minnesota. Without major investment in transmission, grid modernization, and resilience in state energy resources, Minnesota risks higher costs, reliability concerns, and reduced energy security despite its performance relative to the rest of the country.
Minnesota’s water infrastructure plays a vital role in quality of life, powering the state’s economy, and bringing countless visitors to the state every year for fishing, camping, and other recreational activities. Minnesota’s drinking water maintained a ‘C-’ grade, unchanged from 2022, and matched the national grade. While most drinking water systems serve Minnesotans well, those systems also have extensive needs as water infrastructure like treatment plants and pipelines will need rehabilitation or replacement due to increasing age. Drinking water systems across the state have $10.2 billion in infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, with existing funding covering only a small portion of the need.
Ports in Minnesota are an economic powerhouse that deliver millions of tons of goods to Minnesotans and people around the world. The ports grade improved to a ‘C’. While current capacity meets demand, some of the state’s port facilities are nearing the end of their design life and face challenges from aging structures, workforce shortages, freshwater corrosion, and deferred maintenance. Ongoing investment is needed to modernize port infrastructure and ensure Minnesota remains competitive in regional and global markets.
The report card includes five recommendations to improve the grade:
- Secure dedicated, sustainable funding: Establish reliable, dedicated funding so agencies can plan, preserve, and deliver projects efficiently, especially for small, disadvantaged communities, and ensure utility rates reflect the true cost of service provided.
- Streamline processes and foster innovation: Streamline permitting and decision making while using modern standards, data, and innovative delivery methods to reduce costs and improve outcomes.
- Support comprehensive asset management:Prioritize asset management, regular inspections, and data driven planning to extend the life of existing infrastructure and avoid costly failures.
- Embed resilience into all infrastructure decisions: Design and build infrastructure for conditions we can expect in the future. Include resilience into every infrastructure decision to account for future demand, system reliability, and climate risks.
- Invest in workforce and public engagement: Invest in training, competitive wages, and clear public communication to build the infrastructure workforce and sustain long-term investment.
“The American Society of Civil Engineers’ annual statewide infrastructure report card is a needed and timely check-in on the status of Minnesota infrastructure,” said Duluth Mayor Roger J. Reinert. “The report highlights how critical common infrastructure is for Duluth and our regional economy, from the Port of Duluth to the Duluth International Airport, to the road and rail hubs that connect our region to the global economy.”
The report card is a public service to inform citizens and policymakers about the infrastructure needs in Minnesota. Civil engineers use their expertise and school report card-style letter grades to condense complicated data into an easy-to-understand analysis of Minnesota’s infrastructure network. ASCE state report cards are modeled after the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which is released once every four years.
The full report is available here.
About the American Society of Civil Engineers
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 160,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE works to raise awareness of the need to maintain and modernize the nation's infrastructure using sustainable and resilient practices, advocates for increasing and optimizing investment in infrastructure, and improve engineering knowledge and competency. For more information, visit www.asce.org or www.infrastructurereportcard.org and follow us on X (Formerly Twitter), @ASCETweets and @ASCEGovRel.
