Illinois Infrastructure Rated as Poor

By Ashley Badgley 217-960-1331

SPRINGFIELD — Engineers are recommending Illinois invest at least $27 billion into fixing its deteriorating infrastructure — about double the state’s $13 billion budget deficit.

The American Society of Civil Engineers performed a study on Illinois’ infrastructure and gave the state a D+ overall.

The study looked at Illinois’ aviation services, bridges, dams, drinking water, water ways, rail services, roads, transit and wastewater infrastructure. Each category was rated and the average grade was found.

Aviation services and bridges got the best grades at C+, and water ways got the worst grade at a D-. In fact, all water services received a D or worse.

Drinking water received a D+, and the engineers group recommended a $13.5 billion investment in the next two decades is to get the state’s drinking water up to par. As for wastewater, the group recommended $13.4 billion go into new infrastructure over the next 20 years in Illinois.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed a capital bill last year calling for $31 billion to rebuild the state’s infrastructure over the next 10 years.

Chris King, president of the Illinois affiliate of the ASCE, said that funding falls short.

“Much more is needed than what that capital bill is funding,” King said. “Our capital bill in Illinois is going to hit some of our infrastructure, but a substantially larger investment ultimately is going to be necessary.”

ASCE graded the entire country in terms of infrastructure and the nation received a D-.

Robert Gorske, the former president of ASCE and one of more than 30 volunteer engineers who worked on the study, said the national and state results reflect the funding targeted for projects.

Because of the revenue shortage, the report is simply a set of suggestions, Gorske said. The study doesn’t provide estimates or numbers as to how much should be invested overall in infrastructure, but the engineers do suggest that when funds are available for the projects, the overhaul should be done in a sustainable way.

“What we’re really trying to do is create infrastructure that is going to protect our natural environment, and it’s going to be able to withstand both natural and man-made hazards,” Gorske said.

King agreed, said it doesn’t make sense to wait for things to fall apart before they are fixed.

“The patch and pray method just doesn’t work,” King said. “It’s not very cost effective.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation was not able to be reached for comment.