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Infrastructure in Tennessee

Tennessee Infrastructure Overview

While the nation’s infrastructure earned a C- in the 2021 Infrastructure Report Card, Tennessee faces infrastructure challenges of its own. For example, driving on roads in need of repair in Tennessee costs each driver $209 per year, and 4.4% of bridges are rated structurally deficient. Drinking water needs in Tennessee are an estimated $8.7 billion. 276 dams are considered to be high-hazard potential. The state’s schools have an estimated capital expenditure gap of $768 million. This deteriorating infrastructure impedes Tennessee’s ability to compete in an increasingly global marketplace. Success in a 21st-century economy requires serious, sustained leadership on infrastructure investment at all levels of government. Delaying these investments only escalates the cost and risks of an aging infrastructure system, an option that the country, Tennessee, and families can no longer afford.

Key Facts about Tennessee's Infrastructure

aviation infrastructure

Aviation

8 major airports

bridge infrastructure

Bridges

20,226 bridges, 4.4% of which were structurally deficient in 2019

dam infrastructure

Dams

276 high hazard dams

water infrastructure

Drinking Water

$8.7 billion total drinking water need over 20 years

energy infrastructure

Energy

584 outages between 2008 and 2017

hazardous waste infrastructure

Hazardous Waste

30 Superfund sites

inland waterways

Inland Waterways

950 miles of inland waterways

levees

Levees

136 miles of levees protect $3.3 billion of property.

public parks

Public Parks

$290,551,195 in deferred park maintenance

port infrastructure

Ports

3 major water ports

rail infrastructure

Rail

2,552 miles of rail across the state

road infrastructure

Roads

5% of roads are in poor condition. Each motorist pays $209 per year in costs due to driving on roads in need of repair

school infrastructure

Schools

$768 million gap in estimated school capital expenditures.

solid waste infrastructure

Solid Waste

6,008,722 tons of municipal solid waste

stormwater infrastructure

Stormwater

$3.58 average monthly fee

transportation infrastructure

Transit

30.7 million passenger trips in 2018

wastewater infrastructure

Wastewater

$1.7 billion in wastewater needs

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Key Solutions

Our nation’s infrastructure problems are solvable if we have leadership and commit to making good ideas a reality. Raising the grades on our infrastructure will require that we seek and adopt a wide range of solutions.
Leadership & Action

Smart investment will only be possible with strong leadership, decisive action, and a clear vision for our nation’s infrastructure.

Investment

If the United States is serious about achieving an infrastructure system fit for the future some specific steps must be taken, beginning with increased, long-term, consistent investment.

Resilience

We must utilize new approaches, materials, and technologies to ensure our infrastructure can withstand or quickly recover from natural or man-made hazards.

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