Washington DOT Says $8B Needed to Halt Infrastructure Decline

Washington transportation officers are sounding alarms over the state’s rising upkeep backlog.

In the course of the Washington State Transportation Fee’s Oct. 14-15 assembly, the Washington State Dept. of Transportation mentioned it wants about $8 billion over the subsequent decade to protect its freeway, bridge and ferry property—a determine officers concede is much past present funding ranges.

The company’s estimate, first outlined in WSDOT’s 2021–23 preservation finances request, displays a 10-year backlog of deteriorating pavements, bridge decks and marine buildings. 

On the listening to, WSDOT asset administration chief Troy Suing warned that “we’re within the early phases of vital failure attributable to lack of funding … we’re underfunded. We’re compelled to be reactive after we have a look at our property proper now.”

That urgency has revived debate amongst lawmakers who solely months in the past authorised a brand new two-year transportation finances. 

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State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, mentioned the state can end initiatives and protect infrastructure “provided that our finances consists of new income.” 

State Rep. Jake Fey (D-Tacoma), who chairs the Home Transportation Committee, added that legislators are “taking the mandatory steps to pay for [investments] and defend them for the lengthy haul.”

WSDOT’s 2025-27 Capital Enchancment and Preservation Program, launched final October, lists preservation and security as “vital unfunded priorities.” 

The company’s 2024 Gray Notebook reveals freeway upkeep efficiency slipping to a 2.03 out of 4.0—the bottom in additional than a decade—and estimates a $442 million operational shortfall over 10 years simply to maintain present service.

State Sen. Curtis King (R-Yakima), rating member on the Senate Transportation Committee, mentioned each events acknowledge the system’s stress factors. “Washington faces some critical transportation issues, from unsafe roads to a failing ferry system,” he mentioned.

The pressure is seen on the bottom. WSDOT this month started six weekends of lane closures on Seattle’s I-5 Ship Canal Bridge to exchange worn enlargement joints, and crews reopened the White River Bridge on SR 410 on Oct. 16 after emergency repairs completed weeks forward of schedule. 

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“We made a dedication to reopen this bridge as shortly as doable,” Gov. Bob Ferguson mentioned in asserting the early completion. “Individuals simply need authorities to work. Collectively we will transfer quick and remedy massive issues.”

The state’s Joint Legislative Audit and Overview Committee has pressed WSDOT to make clear preservation forecasting strategies following a 2023 audit that cited inconsistent bridge-life assumptions. 

Legislators are anticipated to revisit transportation appropriations when the 2026 session opens in January, and WSDOT plans to replace its 10-year wants assertion earlier than year-end to mirror 2024 situation information and inflation changes.

Washington’s problem displays a nationwide development as state DOTs confront rising maintenance prices after the surge of federal infrastructure spending. For WSDOT, the calculus is instant. As Suing put it:

“After we don’t protect the system, it impacts everyone … there isn’t any short-term repair in relation to bridges.”