Colorado’s 2025 Infrastructure Report Card

Colorado is known for its soaring peaks and rugged landscapes, but the foundation supporting our "Colorful Colorado" lifestyle is showing some wear and tear. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Colorado Section recently released its 2025 Report Card for Colorado’s Infrastructure, and the results offer a sobering look at the systems we rely on every day.

Here's a compilation from the report, with the ASCE's comments and suggestions:

Overall, Colorado received a C- grade. While this indicates our infrastructure is "mediocre" and performing near a national average, it also serves as a critical warning: without sustained investment and modernization, our state’s growth and extreme weather could push these systems to a breaking point.

The Scorecard: A Closer Look

The "C-" grade is a repeat of the state’s 2020 score, meaning that while we’ve made strides in some areas, we are largely just "treading water" against rapid population growth (up 39% since 2000) and aging assets.

The Highs and Lows:

• Success Stories: Bridges (C+), Dams (B-), and Rail (B-) are the standout performers. Colorado’s bridges, in particular, are in better shape than the national average, with only 4.8% rated in poor condition.

• Areas of Concern: Roads (D+), School Facilities (D+), and Levees (D+) represent the state’s biggest challenges. Road quality actually dropped from a C- in 2020 to a D+ this year, largely due to congestion and the high cost of maintenance in our unique terrain.

  
  

What This Means for Our Mountain Communities

For those of us living in the High Country, infrastructure isn't just about convenience—it’s a lifeline. The 2025 Report Card highlights several specific ways these grades impact mountain residents:

1. The Cost of the Commute

With roads earning a D+, mountain travelers are feeling the pinch. The report notes that Colorado drivers pay an average of $1,705 annually in vehicle wear and tear and lost time due to congestion. On mountain corridors like I-70 and US-40, "deteriorated conditions" mean more than just potholes; they mean increased risk during winter storms and longer delays for essential goods reaching our towns.

2. Resilience in the Face of Extremes

Living in the mountains means facing wildfires, flash floods, and heavy snow. The report emphasizes a need for climate-adaptive planning. Our energy grid (graded C) and stormwater systems (C-) are under pressure. For mountain communities, "resilience" means ensuring that a single wildfire doesn't take out the power for an entire valley or that a spring thaw doesn't wash away a critical access road.

3. The "Tourism Strain"

Our infrastructure is built for our residents, but it is used by millions of visitors. Categories like Aviation (B-) and Transit (C-) are critical for our outdoor recreation economy. As visitor numbers grow, the strain on local trailheads, parking, and rural transit systems increases. The report calls for better intergovernmental partnerships to ensure mountain towns aren't left carrying the financial burden of statewide tourism.

4. The Water Gap

The "C-" in drinking water is a reminder of the looming 740,000 acre-foot annual water shortfall projected by 2050. As the "Headwaters State," how we manage our water infrastructure impacts not just our local taps, but 19 other states. Maintaining the tunnels and reservoirs that move water across the Continental Divide is a massive—and expensive—engineering feat that requires urgent attention.

The Path Forward

The ASCE isn’t just handing out bad grades; they’ve provided a roadmap for improvement. To raise the grade, Colorado needs to:

• Prioritize Asset Management: Plan for the full life cycle of projects, not just the initial build.

• Invest in Resilience: Design infrastructure that can withstand Colorado’s increasingly "extreme" weather.

• Engage Stakeholders: Ensure that rural and mountain voices are heard in funding discussions, especially given the restrictions of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).

The Bottom Line: Our mountains are timeless, but our infrastructure is not. To keep Colorado moving, we must treat our roads, pipes, and power lines with the same reverence we have for our peaks.

To view the full 2025 Report Card and see how you can advocate for better infrastructure in your county, visit InfrastructureReportCard.org/Colorado.