The soaring costs of materials.
The average materials costs for highway and bridge construction — including asphalt, concrete, steel, lumber and diesel – increased by 55% between November 2003 and November 2008.

No shortage of Rhode.
Rhode Island has 1,100 miles of roads and 791 bridges: a massive infrastructure to maintain for such a small state.

According to the 2008 National Bridge Survey by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Rhode Island’s decaying bridges are in the worst shape in the nation. 22.3% are structurally deficient. 31.3% are functionally obsolete. Taking the steps to return these bridges to safe, operating conditions is something we simply can’t postpone.

With one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, Rhode Island can’t afford to lose any more jobs. Through a two-tiered effect, infrastructure improvements boost the economy and support more than 5,000 jobs.* First is the direct employment of workers in the construction trades — along with people who supply materials, equipment and specialized services. Second is the indirect generation of jobs when these workers and companies pump dollars into the local and state economies.