Across the country, organizations representing American business, labor and policy will join together May 16-23 for the fourth annual Infrastructure Week, a series of advocacy and educational events designed to raise awareness about infrastructure’s role in the U.S. economy and communities — and the need for increased and continued investment from government and the private sector.
A 2016 report by ARTBA found 59,000 structurally deficient bridges across America. While Congress has begun to address the state of America’s infrastructure, the work is nowhere near complete, and it has increasingly been left to state legislatures, cities and towns across the nation to bear the burden of failing – and increasingly dangerous – infrastructure and to rebuild and invest in new projects.
“The dire state of America’s infrastructure is one of the most pressing issues facing us as a nation, and the benefits of a healthy infrastructure system are far-reaching and long-lasting,” said Zach Schafer, director of Infrastructure Week. “During Infrastructure Week, we are bringing together minds from the public and private sector to encourage lawmakers to continue investing in infrastructure and transportation at the federal, state and local level.”
For more information on Infrastructure Week, including a calendar of events, go to www.infrastructureweek.org. (And use the hashtag #InfrastructureMatters on Twitter)