Pennsylvania gets C-minus for its roads, bridges, parks

The $1.2 trillion federal legislation passed in 2021 to improve the nation’s roads, bridges, tap water and more has served as a good start. It has provided more money to repair infrastructure from A to W — aviation to wastewatersystems.

But it’s just a start, the American Society of Civil Engineers said Tuesday in releasing the group’s “2022 Report Card for Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure” at Lehigh University. The report, which gives an overall grade of C-minus — unchanged from four years ago — was unveiled to coincide with the one-year anniversary of passage of the infrastructure legislation.

The engineer group’s report is essentially a “wellcheck” or an “X-ray” we can hold up to see the health of our roads, bridges and more, said Ralph Eberhardt, chair of Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Transportation Committee, during an interview.

“Every citizen should have anunderstanding of where we stand relative to other states and countries with our infrastructure,” Mr. Eberhardt said.

“A C-minus means our infrastructure is in mediocre condition and requires attention,” said John Caperilla, past president of the Society’s Lehigh Valley section, during remarks in Lehigh’s Fritz Laboratory.

“We all saw the jarring collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh earlier this year,” Mr. Caperilla said, referencing a span that fell into a ravine last January, hours before President Joe Bidenvisited that area.

Theengineering group suggested infrastructure work requires more money and public outcry. Members expressed concern that inflation is eating into the funding, and higher costs for labor and construction mean less work can bedone on the state’s drinking water, solid waste, stormwaterand other systems.

Mr. Eberhardt said the $1.2 trillion law provided historic levels of funding, but only covers 80% of any road project; the state has to contribute the balance.