Washington

Top Three Infrastructure Concerns:

1. Roads
2. Bridges
3. Mass Transit

Key Infrastructure Facts

• 29% of Washington’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
• There are 145 high hazard dams in Washington. A high hazard dam is defined as a dam whose failure would cause a loss of life and significant property damage.
• 29 of Washington’s 950 dams are in need of rehabilitation to meet applicable state dam safety standards.
• 17% of high hazard dams in Washington have no emergency action plan (EAP). An EAP is a predetermined plan of action to be taken including roles, responsibilities and procedures for surveillance, notification and evacuation to reduce the potential for loss of life and property damage in an area affected by a failure or mis-operation of a dam.
• Washington’s drinking water infrastructure needs an investment of $6.67 billion over the next 20 years.
• Washington ranked 23^rd in the quantity of hazardous waste produced and 13^th in the total number of hazardous waste producers.
• Washington’s ports handled 122 million tons of waterborne traffic in 2005, ranking it 7^th in the nation.
• Washington reported an unmet need of $60.6 million for its state public outdoor recreation facilities and parkland acquisition.
• 33% of Washington’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
• 27% of Washington’s major urban highways are congested.
• Vehicle travel on Washington’s highways increased 27% from 1990 to 2007.
• Washington has $3.75 billion in wastewater infrastructure needs.

Sources

*Survey of the state’s ASCE members conducted in September 2008