A new government report is calling for a 20 year plan that would fix what it calls a “growing backlog of structural and operational deficiencies” in the Interstate Highway System.
The congressionally mandated report was prepared by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine for the Department of Transportation. According to reports, it calls for a multi-billion-dollar blueprint to restore and modernize the highway system. The plan would potentially be funded by a fuel tax increase and more tolls and per-mile charges on interstate routes.
The report called out a series of issues with interstate highways, including the need to repair pavement, bridges and other assets before they degrade further. It also calls out the need for more traffic capacity and ability to meet demand in urban areas.