Conditions and Performance Chapter Listing

Conditions and Performance Home Page

Introduction

Background

Current Conditions and Performance

Projected Conditions and Performance in 2007

Resources Needed to Maintain and Improve the Interstate System

Addressing Interstate System Needs

Cost to Maintain Conditions Compared to Projected Spending

Exhibit A-17 compares the Cost to Maintain Interstate Highways and Bridges identified in Exhibit A16 with the projected 10-year capital expenditures on Interstates identified in Exhibit A-6. Note that these projected expenditures are estimates based on simplifying assumptions about future Federal, State and local funding patterns. Positive values in the last two columns of Exhibit A-17 indicate that where is a "gap" between projected spending and investment requirements. Negative values indicate that projected spending exceeds the investment requirements for that category.

Exhibit A-17. 1998-2007 Cost to Maintain Interstates Compared to Projected Interstate Spending

The table shows a $2.8 billion gap between the investment required for highway preservation and projected spending over 10 years, as well as a $4.0 billion gap between investment requirements and spending for bridges over 10 years. However, if current expenditure patterns continue, investment for widening would be $13.3 billion above the Cost to Maintain level over 10 years. If a portion of these resources were redirected toward highway and bridge preservation, IRI and the backlog of bridge investments could be maintained at this funding level.

In 1997, 14.4 percent of Interstate spending went for new construction. Exhibits A-6, A-16, and A17 all assumed that this percentage would remain unchanged in the future. If instead, this percentage was reduced, additional resources would be available to put into other types of Interstate improvements. Based on the assumptions used to develop Exhibit A-6, projected 10year new Interstate construction totals $11.7 billion. This funding would be more than adequate to close the highway preservation and bridge preservation gaps identified above.

As indicated earlier, the Cost to Maintain Interstate Highways and Bridges represents the level of investment required to maintain physical conditions. Maintaining travel time costs or highway user costs would require a significantly higher level of investment.