Report finds nearly half of major Sacramento roads in poor condition as repair costs climb

A new transportation report has found that the condition of roads across the Sacramento region is getting worse, with nearly half of major roads rated in poor condition and rising construction costs making repairs harder to fund. According to the report, 48% of major roads in the Sacramento area have pavement in poor condition and another 22% are rated mediocre. Officials point to a 52% increase in highway construction inflation over the last four years, covering labor and materials. The aging Interstate Street Bridge, 115 years old and in poor condition, had its replacement postponed after construction bids came back nearly 100 million dollars higher than the city projected. The Freeport Bridge over the Sacramento River is also in poor condition, with damage found to its joint armor and deck welds, and the county revised its repair plans this spring after costs climbed 14% above estimates. Advocates and lawmakers are debating new funding sources, including a possible sales tax increase and new fees on electric and hybrid vehicles.

The condition of roads across the Sacramento region is getting worse, according to a new transportation report released this week. From bad bridges to potholes and dangerous streets, the report concludes that roads throughout the area need major repairs, while rising costs are making those fixes harder to pay for at exactly the moment they are most needed.

The numbers are stark. The report found that 48% of major roads in the Sacramento area have pavement in poor condition, with a further 22% rated as mediocre. Rocky Moretti, of the transportation advocacy group TRIP, said the biggest obstacle is cost, pointing to a 52% increase in highway construction inflation over the last four years, a figure that measures both labor and materials.

One example is Sacramento's Interstate Street Bridge. Inspections show the 115 year old structure is in poor condition, but plans to replace it were postponed earlier this year. When construction bids came back nearly 100 million dollars higher than the city's projected cost, officials were forced to pause the project rather than move ahead at that price.

The Freeport Bridge over the Sacramento River is also in poor condition. Inspectors discovered damage to the joint armor and the deck welds, raising fresh safety concerns. Sacramento County had to revise its repair plans this spring after construction costs for that work climbed 14% above the original estimates, underlining how quickly budgets are being overtaken.

State Assembly member Lori Wilson said the growing need for repairs is arriving at a time when transportation funding is actually being reduced. Part of the squeeze comes from the gas tax itself, which is a major source of road money but brings in less as vehicles become more efficient and more electric. The state gas tax is set to rise on July 1, from 61 to 63 cents a gallon, with a smaller increase for diesel.

To close the gap, advocates and lawmakers are weighing new sources of money. Transportation backers in Sacramento have launched an effort to create a dedicated fund through a sales tax, and a poll last fall showed 57% of people would support a 50 cent increase for transportation projects. At the federal level, lawmakers are considering a 130 dollar annual fee on electric vehicles and a 35 dollar fee on hybrids to replace the declining gas tax revenue.

Loading article...