Alaska’s Infrastructure Grade Improves to a ‘C
Alaska’s infrastructure received an overall grade of ‘C’ in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) 2025 Report Card, marking an improvement from its previous assessment. This evaluation encompasses 13 categories, reflecting both progress and ongoing challenges. Notably, the state’s ports improved to a ‘C-‘, bolstered by a $2 billion modernization project at the Don Young Port of Alaska in Anchorage, which manages 75% of the state’s inbound cargo. Conversely, the aviation sector’s grade declined to ‘C-‘, highlighting issues such as limited construction windows due to harsh weather and nearly 200 airports lacking essential weather stations. The marine highway system maintained its ‘D’ grade, facing challenges from an aging fleet and budget constraints. Drinking water infrastructure also received a ‘D+’, with 32 rural communities lacking in-home piped water or community watering points, necessitating water hauling for daily needs.
The report emphasizes the unique challenges Alaska faces, including extreme weather conditions and a dispersed population reliant on diverse transportation modes. To address these issues, ASCE recommends establishing dedicated and sustainable funding sources, implementing long-term planning regulations for asset management, and expanding asset management plans to include non-federal assets. These strategies aim to enhance the prioritization and efficiency of infrastructure investments, ensuring the resilience and reliability of Alaska’s infrastructure systems in the coming decades.
