North Carolina isn't making the grade on infrastructure according to a report card released Tuesday by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The 2009 update from 2006 gives North Carolina an average grade of C minus.

The only two areas to improve since 2006 were drinking water and wastewater.

Even North Carolina's average is slightly higher than the national average of a ‘D.' David Peterson with the Association of Civil Engineers said North Carolina is at a critical stage because of expected population growth.

"We feel it cannot support the increase in population," Peterson said.

The report bumps roads down from a D to a D minus over the last three years. Transportation Secretary Gene Conti said his department is working on getting federal funding, but said the grades still aren't easy to look at.

"If I brought this report card home to my mother when I was a kid, I would not be very happy -- she wouldn't be either," Conti said.

Peterson said the issue boils down to funding. Part of the solution, he said, is dedicated funding for each infrastructure area, something not all currently have.

Representative Nelson Cole, D-Rockingham, said between finding new ways to fund transportation and other infrastructure, the state has a lot to think about.

"We've got to do some serious reflection of what we want this state to be and how we're going to get there in regard to these issues," Cole said.

And while the report may look scary to some, Peterson said it's more of a wake up call.

"We want it to wake them up to the real issue of a crumbling infrastructure does not support a healthy economy," Peterson said.

Related Links

1. American Society of Civil Engineers