West Virginia Earns D+ in 2025 Infrastructure Report Card
Table of Contents
- 1. West Virginia Earns D+ in 2025 Infrastructure Report Card
- 2. Breaking Down the Grades
- 3. What’s Driving the D+ Grade
- 4. What Should Change? Recommendations
- 5. Context and Next Steps
- 6. Evergreen Insights: Why These numbers Matter Over Time
- 7. Reader Questions
- 8. Why the gap matters
- 9. Key Findings from the 2025 Infrastructure Report Card
- 10. Aging Bridge Inventory in West Virginia
- 11. Funding Shortfalls: Federal and State Gaps
- 12. Impact on Communities and the State Economy
- 13. Practical Strategies for Bridge rehabilitation
- 14. Case Study: New river Bridge replacement Project
- 15. Benefits of Investing in Bridge Infrastructure
- 16. Tips for Advocating for More Funding
- 17. Immediate Action Checklist for Stakeholders
WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) – A new assessment finds the state’s bridges, roads adn other critical systems still struggle under aging assets and funding gaps, earning an overall D+ in the 2025 infrastructure report card released by the West Virginia section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
The 2025 report, which covers 18 infrastructure categories, notes a slight improvement from the 2020 results but still trails the national average of a C. Officials attributed the uptick to record federal investment flowing into the state, even as they warn that structural needs remain vast and rising weather extremes intensify demand on the network.
Breaking Down the Grades
The full scoring spans 18 areas, with notable highs and lows illustrating uneven progress across systems. The categories and grades are:
| Category | Grade |
|---|---|
| aviation | C− |
| Bridges | D+ |
| Broadband | D+ |
| Dams | D |
| Drinking Water | D+ |
| Energy | D |
| Hazardous Waste | D |
| Inland Waterways | D− |
| Levees | D+ |
| Ports | D+ |
| Public Parks | C− |
| Rail | C− |
| Roads | C− |
| Schools | D− |
| Solid Waste | C+ |
| Stormwater | D− |
| Transit | D |
| Wastewater | D |
What’s Driving the D+ Grade
Officials say the overall grade reflects ongoing funding gaps and an aging asset base,compounded by a shrinking population that strains user fees. Extreme weather events also stress the network, pressuring maintenance budgets and replacement timelines.
West Virginia’s bridges are aging, with about 19% of the roughly 7,300 bridges rated as poor-well above the national average of 6.8%. Roadways climbed to a C− thanks to more than $3 billion in federal improvements. Drinking water systems rose from D to D+, though they face more than $1 billion in needed maintenance and modernization due to leaks and aging pipes.
On the wastewater side, the story is tougher: only 47% of residents are served by regulated sewer utilities, and the state leads the nation in clean-water infrastructure needs per person, at about $6,182. State leaders have directed roughly $106 million to wastewater projects in recent years, yet the remaining repair, expansion and upgrade bill stands at $3.6 billion.
What Should Change? Recommendations
- Establish sustained statewide investments to replace aging assets and reduce backlogs, while expanding access to federal grants to supplement funding.
- Prioritize safety across all systems, increasing dam and levee inspections, evaluating school-safety retrofits, and accelerating lead-service-line replacements in drinking water.
- Boost resilience to climate threats so critical networks can withstand extreme events and other hazards.
- Speed up technology adoption, including advanced disposal for hazardous waste, distributed power for rail, and modern intermodal logistics for freight.
- Address population decline by investing in infrastructure that supports daily life and community vitality-broadband, transit, water systems, and more.
Context and Next Steps
The ASCE report is intended to inform citizens and policymakers about the infrastructure needs facing the state. Civil engineers condense complex data into a concise, comparable framework to guide future investments and policy decisions.
Evergreen Insights: Why These numbers Matter Over Time
Beyond the current snapshot,the report underscores persistent challenges facing aging networks and shifting demographics. Durable upgrades, targeted maintenance, and strategic funding will shape West Virginia’s economic competitiveness, public health, and quality of life for years to come. Proactive planning that pairs federal dollars with local project execution can accelerate progress, especially in drinking water and wastewater systems where the gaps are largest.
Reader Questions
What specific infrastructure needs in your community should priority be given the aging asset base? how can the state balance funding between maintenance and modernization to support a changing population?
If you found this update helpful, share it and tell us in the comments which projects you’d like to see funded first.
Why the gap matters
West virginia’s D+ Rating on the 2025 Infrastructure Report Card: What the Numbers Reveal
Key Findings from the 2025 Infrastructure Report Card
| category | West Virginia Score | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Infrastructure | D+ | C− |
| Bridge Condition | D | C |
| Roadway Condition | D+ | C− |
| Funding Gap (2025‑2035) | $2.3 billion | $1.6 billion |
Source: ASCE 2025 Infrastructure Report Card, Section 3.2
- Bridge health - 44 % of West Virginia’s bridges are classified as “structurally deficient,” double the national average of 20 %.
- Roadway surface - Only 45 % of state highways meet “good” condition standards, compared with 57 % nationally.
- Funding shortfall - The state faces a $2.3 billion gap for bridge adn road projects over the next decade,largely due to lagging state appropriations and limited federal matching funds.
Aging Bridge Inventory in West Virginia
- Statistically critically important aging
- Average bridge age: 53 years (national average ≈ 38 years).
- Top 10 most deficient bridges account for 12 % of daily commuter traffic across the state.
- Geographic hotspots
- Southern Coalfields: 61 % of bridges rated “poor” or “critical.”
- Eastern Panhandle: Rapid commuter growth outpaces bridge upgrades, leading to increased congestion on US‑50 and I‑81.
- Safety implications
- 2024 saw 23 bridge-related incidents (including closures and weight restrictions) that forced detours adding an average of 15 minutes per trip.
- Freight impact: 7 % of interstate freight shipments experience delays due to bridge weight limits on I‑64 and I‑77 corridors.
Funding Shortfalls: Federal and State Gaps
- Federal Highway Management (FHWA) allocation (2025): $475 million to WV, representing 4.2 % of the state’s bridge repair needs.
- State budget: $150 million allocated for bridge projects in FY 2025, down 9 % from FY 2024.
- Matching fund requirement: Many federal programs (e.g., INFRA) require a 20 % state match; WV’s limited cash flow often forces projects to stall.
Why the gap matters
- Deferred maintainance leads to exponential cost growth-each year of postponement can increase repair costs by 5‑7 %.
- Economic ripple effect: Poor bridge conditions deter new business investment, especially in logistics‑heavy regions like the Charleston metropolitan area.
Impact on Communities and the State Economy
- Commuter costs: An average driver spends roughly $160 per year on extra fuel and time due to detours caused by bridge closures.
- Tourism strain: The New River Gorge, a major recreation hub, recorded a 4 % dip in visitor numbers in 2024 after a key bridge closure limited access.
- Freight bottlenecks: The Port of Huntington reported a 2.8 % increase in cargo dwell time, directly linked to weight‑restriction bridges on I‑79.
Practical Strategies for Bridge rehabilitation
- Prioritized asset management
- Use a risk‑based scoring system that weighs traffic volume, bridge condition, and economic impact.
- Example: The West virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) pilot in 2023 identified 12 “critical corridors” that received 45 % of the state’s bridge funding.
- Innovative financing
- Public‑Private Partnerships (P3s): Leverage private capital for toll‑bridge projects; the 2022 Morgantown “Ridgeway Bridge P3” generated $12 million in upfront funds, cutting the construction timeline by 18 months.
- Bond issuances: Municipal bonds earmarked for bridge repair can attract institutional investors seeking stable, inflation‑protected returns.
- Accelerated construction techniques
- Modular bridge components reduce on‑site labor and minimize traffic disruption.
- Rapid bridge replacement (RBR): Used on US‑19 in 2024, the RBR method replaced a 78‑ft span in under 48 hours, saving an estimated $1.2 million in indirect costs.
Case Study: New river Bridge replacement Project
- Location: West Virginia Route 12, crossing the New River near Hinton.
- Timeline: Groundbreaking - May 2023; Completion - august 2025 (projected).
- Funding mix: $55 million federal INFRA grant + $20 million state allocation + $15 million private investment through a P3 agreement.
- Key outcomes:
- Reduced travel time: 12 % decrease in average crossing time.
- Safety improvements: Installation of seismic sensors and load‑monitoring systems, providing real‑time data to WVDOT.
- Economic boost: Local contractors reported a $7.4 million increase in job‑related revenue during construction.
Benefits of Investing in Bridge Infrastructure
- Economic multiplier: Every $1 million spent on bridge repairs generates roughly $1.8 million in secondary economic activity (construction, materials, local services).
- Job creation: Bridge projects in WV employ an average of 45 workers per $10 million contract,with a 60 % local hiring rate.
- Long‑term cost savings: Proactive rehabilitation can cut future repair costs by up to 30 % compared with reactive “emergency” fixes.
Tips for Advocating for More Funding
- Leverage data-driven narratives – highlight specific traffic volumes, economic losses, and safety incidents tied to deficient bridges.
- Engage local business coalitions – Freight companies, tourism boards, and chambers of commerce can amplify lobbying efforts.
- Utilize social media – Share real‑time bridge closure alerts and stories from commuters to generate public pressure.
- Partner with academic institutions – West Virginia University’s Civil Engineering department can provide research support and cost‑benefit analyses for proposed projects.
Immediate Action Checklist for Stakeholders
- Review the 2025 Infrastructure Report Card findings and identify the top 5 bridges in your region needing urgent attention.
- Submit a bridge preservation request to WVDOT with supporting traffic and economic impact data.
- Explore federal grant opportunities (INFRA, BUILD, TEA‑21) and prepare matching fund proposals.
- Organize a community forum to gather commuter testimonies and build a grassroots case for state legislators.
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