TOPSHAM, Maine — The Maine Section of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has released its latest report card evaluating Maine’s infrastructure, assigning the state an overall grade of C.
The report, updated every four years, assesses 16 categories, including roads, bridges, water systems, and ports.
While the grade indicates that Maine’s infrastructure is "mediocre, but requires attention," it also highlights specific areas of progress and concern.
Maine’s bridges received a D+, reflecting the aging nature of the state’s structures. More than half the bridges in Maine are over 50 years old, and nearly 400 are in poor condition. Roads, however, improved to a C-, with 74% of highway pavement now rated as being in good or excellent condition. The aviation sector maintained its B grade, benefiting from significant improvements over the last four years.
"These grades show that the Maine Legislature and agencies are working hard to improve our built environment, but there’s still work to be done," Nate Strout, president of ASCE’s Maine Section, said.
The report also included several recommendations for improvement, such as developing sustainable funding sources as a top priority, as the declining fuel tax and rising construction costs continue to strain resources.
The ASCE urged the state to prioritize public safety by addressing dam and levee safety, PFAS remediation, and traffic fatalities. Additionally, with more than 150 traffic-related fatalities occurring annually, investments in Maine’s highway safety plan are expected to save lives, according to the report.
Another key recommendation is to enhance climate resilience. Severe storms are becoming more frequent, and infrastructure projects must factor in climate impacts to reduce long-term costs and environmental harm, the report explained. Investments in transit and other sustainable options could also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note acknowledged the challenges but expressed optimism, noting that federal funding from recent infrastructure laws has enabled meaningful investments. However, he emphasized that improvements would take time to materialize in future assessments.