Infrastructure is the basic physical stuff which makes our civilization work: roads, bridges, dams, electrical grids, railways, airports, waterways, and phone and internet lines. Well-maintained infrastructure increases transportation efficiency, decreases threats posed by natural disasters, and promotes economic growth.

The most identifiable piece of American infrastructure is the Interstate Highway System. This development was signed into law by Republican president Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Its benefits have been overwhelmingly positive for both business and everyday citizens.

 

Is our infrastructure really “crumbling”?

Yes. In its annual report card on the nation’s infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the United States a cumulative grade of D+. In 2010 alone, it was estimated that deficiencies in surface infrastructure from potholes and outdated rail lines to collapsing bridges cost us $130 billion between property damage and lost time.