North Carolina Roads Research Paper

The Infrastructure of North Carolina Roads

Richard Suggs

Western Carolina University

Steven Anthony Sciara

The Infrastructure of North Carolina Roads

North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the United States. More than 12.5 million additional people are expected to call North Carolina home by 2040. That is an increase of 32% expected between 2010 and 2040. North Carolina maintains 80,000 miles of roads. With most of the money designated for roads tied into sales tax and the gas tax, the recession over the past few years has crippled our ability to repair and construct roads. We will need to improve the funding system of our roads, which will increase travel and productivity.

In return this can pose a significant challenge to transportation officials, legislators, and engineers to provide safe roadways to citizens regarding an aging infrastructure (Infrastructure Report Card, 2013). Bridges and culverts are a crucial component of the highway system as they cross roadways, streams, and major waterways to keep the motorists and commerce moving (Infrastructure Report Card, 2014). The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s main task is to maintain the majority of these highways. Currently there are 13,558 state maintained bridges, including 5,462 bridges that are structurally deficient and/or functionally obsolete (Infrastructure Report Card, 2014). While NCDOT currently funds a $200 million bridge improvement program, a significant investment in bridge repair and replacements will be required as bridges and major highways reach the end of their service life (Infrastructure Report Card, 2013). North Carolina’s bridge needs will require an increase in funding not only for new highway bridges, but simply to maintain the aging system (Infrastructure Report Card,

All of these sources combined make up approximately twenty-three percent, forty percent, twenty percent, and seventeen percent, respectively. The Highway Fund provides resources to maintain the statewide roadway network, cover administrative expenses, and support multi-modal programs. The Highway Trust Fund is a resource used for the design and construction of legislatively designated primary U.S. and NC routes and loop highways. Federal funds are received from national administrations and grants to be used for various projects. The funding from the North Carolina Turnpike Authority is utilized from usage fess and toll revenues to create major highway projects that could take place in the future. According to the North Carolina Statewide Transportation Plan, NCDOT created an investment and policy priorities North Carolina’s transportation system. As a long-range planning process, the blueprint draws technical analysis, partner and stakeholder collaboration, and public involvement to identify and prioritize NCDOT’s investments over the next thirty to forty years. These long-term are to maximize economic opportunity, improve modal systems, maintain transparency, promote long-term viability for the residents of North