Hello again from Getting There, The Dispatch’s (relatively) new weekly column on all things driving, transportation and commuting in central Ohio.
This week, we’re diving into the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recent “2025 Report Card for Ohio’s Infrastructure”, an annual report that explores how each state’s infrastructure is faring.
Aspects of Ohio’s infrastructure, such as its roads, are rated on a traditional grade school A-F scale. For the most part, the state may need a tutor.
Only two aspects of the state’s infrastructure, its rail system (B-) and its solid waste system (B-), received grades higher than a C. Its lowest score was for its inland waterways, which received a D, or “poor” on ASCE’s scale.
How good are Ohio’s roads?
Ohio’s roads received a D+ grade. While any slacker will tell you that’s technically a passing grade, the conditions of ODOT-managed roads have improved in recent years, the conditions of roads managed by local jurisdictions have remained relatively stable since 2018.
Half of Ohio’s major urban highways have pavement in poor or mediocre condition, meaning that without significant investment, they will continue to deteriorate to the point where routine repairs will no longer be sufficient to maintain the roads, according to the report.
Ohio’s roadway conditions cost Ohioans $14.4 billion each year in vehicle wear and tear, wasted fuel and repairs from crashes, according to the report.
The state is also in need of more transportation funding after inflation sent construction costs soaring by 27% in 2022 and 12% in 2023. Ohio’s transportation revenue comes from fuel taxes and license plate registration fees, which haven’t been adjusted since 2019.
While Ohio’s accident fatality rate has risen since 2017, from 0.99 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled to 1.15 in 2022, its rate remains below the national average.
How good are Ohio’s bridges?
Ohio’s bridges fared better in the report, earning a C+ grade.
Ohio’s bridges are, on average, 43 years old, one year over the national average of 42 years. To keep Ohio’s bridges under 75 years old by 2050, 52% of the state’s bridges will need to be rehabilitated or replaced in the next 25 years. Ohio’s current replacement rate of its bridges is “woefully” below the number needed to maintain the state’s infrastructure, according to the report.
ODOT is also expected to face a significant revenue decrease of around $877 million per year by 2040 as cars become more fuel-efficient or utilize different engine types, thereby reducing fuel tax revenue. This could pose risks to future bridge repairs and replacements, according to the report.
In terms of resilience in the face of catastrophic events, Ohio is “fortunate” to have a redundant transportation system, meaning if any one bridge needs to be closed, a detour would exist in almost all cases, according to the report.
Climate change may accelerate the deterioration of Ohio’s bridges in the future, as the state is expected to experience more frequent floods, heavy rain, storms, and droughts, according to the report.
If you’re still hungry for more infrastructure nuggets, you can read the full report for yourself online.
Got questions, comments, complaints on transportation in central Ohio? Contact Breaking and Trending News Reporter Nathan Hart at NHart@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Getting There: Pass or fail? How Ohio scores on its 2025 roads and bridges report card
Reporting by Nathan Hart, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
