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The American Society of Civil Engineers recently graded U.S. infrastructure a grade of 鈥淐鈥� 鈥� the highest mark ever awarded by the ASCE in such an evaluation.

A rash of new infrastructure funded under the Biden administration has begun to make a difference, the ASCE found. Investments from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) have had a positive impact; however, continued, steady funding is needed, according to the group.

鈥淲e have seen the difference investment can make in improving infrastructure,鈥� Feniosky Pe帽a-Mora, the ASCE鈥檚 2025 president, stated in a news release on Tuesday.

Oregon received a 鈥淐-鈥� grade.

鈥淥regon has a rich history of innovation, such as implementing the nation鈥檚 first gas tax, but recent debates have failed to find sustainable and dedicated transportation funding,鈥� the ASCE stated.

The state was beginning to tackle its infrastructure backlog, thanks largely to federal funding, said Mike Salsgiver, executive director of the Associated General Contractors鈥� Oregon-Columbia chapter.

鈥淭he challenge is big, but the work that was done to pass the (IIJA) was really good,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 progress and we鈥檒l take it.鈥�

鈥淯ncertainty鈥� at the federal level could impact infrastructure projects in the months and years ahead, with changes in personnel and policy, Salsgiver noted.

鈥淲ith all of the turbulence at the federal level 鈥� that could create some uncertainty, but hopefully we can keep going on (paying for infrastructure),鈥� he said.

Contractors are also pursuing state infrastructure funding. AGC is involved in discussions on Oregon鈥檚 biennial transportation bill.

The nation鈥檚 grade rose from a 鈥淐-鈥� in 2024. It was the highest mark since ASCE began issuing its report card in 1998.

鈥淲hile this showcases that investment leads to direct results, the job is not yet done,鈥� Pe帽a-Mora added. 鈥淎s the Report Card makes clear, there is still a great need for sustained investments. Delaying upgrades to our nation鈥檚 roads, bridges, transit and utilities will cost families and businesses time and money, in addition to creating unsafe yet often avoidable situations.鈥�

Oregon infrastructure faces 鈥渃apacity challenges鈥� due to a growing population and the expansion of data centers and high-tech manufacturing, the report stated. The IIJA provided money for several Oregon projects, including $62 million to upgrade navigational channels in Tillamook Bay and Bar, $25 million for broadband deployment in rural western Oregon and $3.8 million for Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford.

Washington earned a 鈥淐鈥� grade.

Nationally, eight infrastructure categories 鈥� dams, hazardous waste, inland waterways, levees, ports, public parks, roads and transit 鈥� improved from the 2021 report. The two that declined were energy and rail.

The ASCE identified a few overarching trends. The civil engineers found that 鈥渁ging infrastructure systems are increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and extreme weather events, creating unexpected and often avoidable risks to public safety and disrupting economic activity.鈥�

Recent federal and state funding has made a positive impact, but the full force of it will not be realized for years, the ASCE found.

Unreliable or missing data remains a key problem for evaluating infrastructure, the ASCE stated.