North Carolina infrastructure received ‘C-‘ grade
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — On Wednesday, the North Carolina Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers released the 2026 Report Card for North Carolina Infrastructure.
Seven categories of infrastructure were given a cumulative grade of “C-” for the state.
The report says existing funding gaps due to past decades of underinvestment, rising demands of aging assets accommodating more users, and extreme weather events like Tropical Storm Helene and Chantal are putting a strain on the state’s infrastructure network.
Of the seven categories, drinking water was given the highest grade of C+. Aviation, bridges, roads, and stormwater were given a C-. Dams and Wastewater were given the grade of D+.
“North Carolina’s population is surging because of the business opportunities our state presents and the beautiful landscapes we enjoy, from the mountains to the coasts, drawing visitors from all over the country,” said Chas Webb, P.E., co-chair of the 2026 Report Card for North Carolina’s Infrastructure. “While this growth is exciting, it will only remain possible if our built environment can adequately serve residents and businesses and keep our systems running smoothly.”
Vehicle miles traveled rose from 122 million in 2019 to 127 million in 2024. More than 22% of bridges were in poor conditions a decade ago, yet only 8% are in poor condition now. For roads, only 1.5% of non-interstate lane miles in poor condition, compared to the 37% nationwide roads in poor condition.
The report includes recommendations working on increasing investment, resilience, safety, capacity, and technology to improve the grade.
SCE state report cards are modeled after the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, which is released once every four years.
