NBC News draws national attention to skyrocketing construction costs

NBC News addressed the growing national concern about skyrocketing transportation construction costs during its evening broadcast June 29. NBC News Correspondent Savannah Guthrie reported that "the cost of asphalt has shot up 70% in the last five years because one of its key ingredients is crude oil." Guthrie spent a few days before the report interviewing a number of local, state and national experts, including AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley. When asked about the financial difficulties many states are facing, Mr. Horsley said, "We're experiencing the perfect storm in terms of maintaining the nation's highways."

State DOTs are responsible for the upkeep of America's 47,000 route miles of Interstate Highway and 70% of the nation's bridges. NBC used New Jersey's Pulaski Skyway as just one example of why the nation need to investment more in infrastructure. The skyway, which crosses the Passaic and Hackensack rivers between Newark and Jersey City, needs to be replaced. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine (D) told NBC News the cost of preserving the 75-year-old structure continues to increase. "We have seen almost a 12% increase in the cost of the materials needed to make this bridge safe," Corzine said.

Guthrie also reported that states are being hit hard by a 63% jump in diesel fuel prices in the past year. Diesel fuel runs most of the trucks and equipment state DOTs use for transportation construction.

Guthrie's concluding statement summed up her report: "Costs up, revenues down, the high cost of oil being driven home, on an increasingly bumpy road," Guthrie said.